What is Pilates and How Can it Help Me?

Here is an article about Pilates. I hope you find the information helpful. Editor.

Pilates (pronounced pih-lah-teez) is a scientific system of body conditioning representing the total mind/body experience, created over 85 years ago by Joseph Pilates. Joseph Pilates was born in Germany in 1880 and as a youngster suffered from some serious health problems, such as asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever. Perhaps it was these childhood illnesses that drove him to discover this form of exercise that is so wildly popular today.

Pilates philosophy of physical fitness has something to offer everyone, regardless of age or physical ability, and particularly those who want to strengthen and tone their bodies without building large, bulky muscles. Initially, Pilates attracted many of the top dancers because his method complimented the dancer’s traditional training. Soon actors, actresses and professional athletes, as well as wealthy socialites, were rushing to Pilates’ studio to learn his unique method of strengthening the body without building a bulky musculature.

Originally, Pilates called his method "Contrology" defined as the complete coordination of body, mind and spirit. In his book "Return to Life Through Contrology", he explained that physical fitness is the attainment and maintenance of a uniformly developed body with a sound mind capable of naturally, easily and satisfactorily performing our many and varied daily tasks with spontaneous zest and pleasure. He knew the inner workings of the body so well, and understood the dynamics of the inner world that we are seemingly just becoming aware of today. His theories were way ahead of his time, and now have been widely proven. Pilates’ outstanding insights into the movement of the human body came naturally to him.

To relieve the effects of stress, Pilates believed, that people needed a reserve of energy so that they could participate in a myriad of various forms of recreational activities, preferably performed outdoors. He believed that the modern lifestyle cause stress-related illnesses, with telephones, cars, environmental pollution and economic pressure all combining to create physical and mental stress. And he further believed that this stress was so overwhelming that every household probably had at least one person who suffered from nervous tension.

"It doesn't matter what you do, its the way that you do it."

                                                                            Joseph H. Pilates

Even today, although the original method has changed as it spread across the world, the basic principles still hold true. The concept of play was crucial in the fight against stress, realizing that most people were so tired after work that they considered an evening of reading the paper to be the only leisure activity they could manage.

Pilates works from within the body toward the exterior surfaces, unlike the usual gym regimen, which works from the outside toward the inside. With gym routines, once someone stops working out, the results do not last long and the body becomes out of shape rather quickly. When you stop practicing the pilates method for a time, the results still stay with you. And when you restart, even after an extended break, you will feel as if you had stopped only yesterday.

The aim of Pilates method is to produce:

1. Fluidity and awareness of movement
2. Mental focus and control over these movements without the need to concentrate on them.
3. A body that "thinks" for itself. A healthy body both inside and out.
   

Pilates Resources:

A Beginners Guide

Pilates Power System

Pilates: Relief from Back and Joint Pain

This page is about Pilates.