WHAT IS PILATES?
Pilates is a unique hundred-year-old method of body conditioning that has proven to be a remarkably effective and efficient way to create stronger and more limber muscles without building bulk. Its inventor, the legendary Joseph H. Pilates, originally named it Contrology, although it is now officially known as the Pilates Method of Body Conditioning, or Pilates.
Not just an exercise, The Pilates Method of Body Conditioning, is a series of more than 500 controlled movements that engage both body and mind. It is executed on special equipment (apparatus) designed to develop the body uniformly. Joseph Pilates believed that the basis of successful corrective exercise lay in the thorough understanding of body mechanics, in combination with his unique system of exercises.
WHAT MAKES PILATES DIFFERENT?
From the moment you enter a real Pilates studio, it is apparent that you are not in the gym. There is no TV glaring, no music blasting, no one moving mindlessly or carelessly and no tuning out with personal headphones.
The Pilates apparatus itself is significantly different from standard gym equipment. The use of springs for resistance differentiates Pilates apparatus from typical weight-based gym equipment. These variable springs function both as resistance and assistance to create and maintain opposition, thereby producing the unique results of the Pilates Method.
The emphasis in Pilates is always on quality, not quantity. A private lesson on a Pilates apparatus demands complete concentration and attention to form. Students learn to be mindful about their movements. The repetitions are few, 5 to 10 at most, but Pilates allows one to lengthen and strengthen one’s muscles all within the same movement, and, in a true Pilates-style efficiency, all within an hour.
As students advance in Pilates, the movements are executed more quickly, with all six elements of Pilates simultaneously in play: Concentration, Control, Flow, Precision, Centering and Breathing. Most importantly, Pilates uses the whole body, not just isolated muscle groups. All movements are initiated from the “Powerhouse,” which means that the abdominals, torso, lower back, buttocks and inner thighs are engaged. Without imposing any excess strain on the body, Pilates balances the protagonist and antagonist forces in the joints, and students finish their lesson feeling refreshed.
WHO SHOULD TAKE PILATES?
Because Pilates addresses all major physical concerns--alignment, injury prevention, correct breathing, physical balance, strength and flexibility, as well as the proper harmony between mind and body--it is suitable and beneficial to almost everyone.
While Pilates is challenging enough for superfit professional athletes, and sophisticated enough for professional dancers, it is also gentle and safe enough for those undergoing rehabilitation, as well as for the elderly and pregnant women, who often come to lessons up to delivery.
Above all, Pilates teaches you to be more in tune with your own activities. By fostering a clearer connection between mind and body, Pilates can also change an individual’s perception about a prior injury, thus promoting recovery while avoiding reinjury.
HOW MANY TIMES A WEEK SHOULD I TAKE PILATES?
Joseph Pilates thought his method of body conditioning should be practiced 3-4 times a week. If possible, it is preferable to take as many lessons as one can in the beginning to develop muscle memory and really understand and learn the method. Later, one can taper off to a minimum of 2 lessons, supplemented by home Pilates exercise, as prescribed by your teacher.
A practitioner of daily Pilates of some form, in the studio or at home, will be pleasantly surprised at how vibrant he or she feels and looks after only a few weeks. Every move one makes is buoyant, fluid and effortless, because every aspect of Pilates exercise, done correctly, looks fluid, rhythmic and seamless. In addition, the tensions of daily life are reduced because of an increased harmony of mind and body, and, while the body is strong, the muscles feel massaged and relaxed.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR TO A PILATES LESSON?
Wear something comfortable. Sweat pants, leggings, bicycle shorts, basketball shorts, dancewear are all appropriate, as long as they are not too binding, especially at the neck. All exercises are generally done without socks, so always bring clean feet.
