What is Pilates?

• Pilates is a total mind-body conditioning exercise programme that is based on creating a stable body or core by activating the deep abdominal and spinal muscles.
• A stable core is essential for maintaining correct posture and balance of the whole body.
• Pilates focuses on building your body's core strength and improving your posture through a series of low repetition, low impact stretching and conditioning exercises.
• It aims to restore the body's natural alignment and balance using slow, accurate, precise, flowing movements to give a feeling of strength, endurance and flexibility.
• Pilates can be taught at all levels from complete beginner to advanced.
• It is therefore ideal for people returning to exercises after injury or a long break, or those taking it up for the first time - right through to the elite athlete.
• It is great for people looking for an exercise programme to supplement their aerobic training or those who no longer enjoy hot, sweaty classes in loud, busy gyms. However, perhaps its greatest strength lies in its ability to help people with back or neck problems, other joint or muscle symptoms, before and after childbirth or general poor posture.

Pilates History

German born Joseph Pilates developed his exercises to overcome his own childhood illnesses and to help patients recover more quickly during the First World War. He emigrated to the United States where he opened an exercise studio that became popular with dancers, in particular George Balanchine from the New York City Ballet. There are now many different pilates teaching methods still following Joseph Pilates basic principles, however with the advances in medical research, principally by physiotherapists studying the effects of exercise on muscle and joint pain, we have a greater understanding of how these exercises can help with the management of chronic pain conditions and to keep the body moving despite these.