| What
is Pilates
Although
it has only more recently entered the mainstream fitness industry,
Pilates has been around for about 70 years.
The techniques
were pioneered by Joseph H Pilates a German gymnast-turned-nurse,
who originally designed the exercises to enable dancers to exercise
without aggravating an injury. His system of exercise was developed
over a lifetime of teaching and daily practice. He took what
he believed to be effective from disciplines such as yoga, modern
dance and gymnastics, and rejected what he termed 'sloppy calisthenics'
in favour of corrective exercise.
Pilates
combines slow, precise movement with specific breathing to improve
posture, strength and muscular balance. This emphasis on muscle
balance - strengthening weak muscles, and lengthening tight
ones, has always been an important concept in Pilates. It is
now recognised that a wide range of conditions, from non-specific
lower back pain to RSI, are often a result of habitual poor
movement patterns.
Pilates
is an exercise discipline which involves both mind and body,
and can be customised easily to suit the needs of each participant. |
| Benefits |
| Isolates,
activates and conditions deep muscles |
| Builds
core abdominal and back strength |
| Flattens
abdominals and restores natural posture |
| Develops
strength, flexibility and endurance |
| Tones
and elongates without adding bulk |
| Enhances
mobility and agility |
| Improves
athletic performance |
| Alleviates
pain and tension |
| Adaptable
to all ages, shapes, fitness levels |
. |
