PILATES HISTORY

Joseph Humbertus Pilates was born in Germany in 1880. He spent his childhood fighting rickets, asthma and rheumatic fever. Joe studied yoga, zen meditation and the rigorous exercise regime of the ancient Greeks and Romans to become physically strong and immune to his ailments.

During World War 1, Joe was working in a hospital on the Isle of Man. He was appalled to see so many ill people in bed not doing exercises. He devised a gentle exercise regime for these patients, and it became evident that the patients perfoming Joe’s exercises improved faster. He then started using resistance via springs from old hospital beds to partially load the muscles, tendons and ligaments to improve healing with even greater success.

Today, the Pilates legacy continues to evolve and benefit thousands of people around the world.

PILATES: THE METHOD

The Pilates method is essentially a mind-body centering technique that emphasises the importance of beginning all movements from a central core of stability (namely the lumbo-pelvic region).

Pilates matwork consists of the original 34 Pilates exercises Joe developed, performed on an exercise mat. These exercises were designed to promote core stability, strength, endurance, mobility and flexibility (stretching exercises), postural and body awareness and to correct muscle imbalances. The main theme is to maintain a central core of stability in the lumbo-pelvic region. The Pilates method works by adjusting the intensity of each exercise by using different lengths of levers (various limb movements) and resistance (using pilates equipment like therabands, balls, magic circles, foam rollers and tubes etc).

According to Joe injuries were caused by muscle imbalances and poor habitual patterns of movement. He found it essential to correct the malalignment and to re-educate the body in order to prevent recurrence of pain and injury. Joe believed that by concentrating on precision of movement, the awareness of breathing control and by continued flowing movement through body-mind technique, abnormal movement patterns can be altered.

Pilates is a tool that holds enormous potential in restoring a functional, dynamic and balanced body.

Pilates is based on 8 principles:

• Breathing: Breathing is co-ordinated with exercises so that exhalation occurs with movement that requires the greatest effort. This provides the spine with the greatest local muscle stability due to the use of the diaphragm and the activation of transversus abdominus (abdominal drawing in action).
• Concentration: Pilates is a work-out for the mind and body. The mind can not switch off and concentration on every movement is essential for correct alignment and body awareness.
• Control: Movement control is essential, especially when working against gravity and resistance.
• Centering:Pilates primarily facilitate core stability known as your ‘powerhouse’.
• Precision: Precision is important and it leads to greater awareness and control.
• Flow: Pilates exercises are performed in even, continuous flowing movements.
• Integrated isolation: Pilates helps one to recognise incorrect movement patterns and to correct it.
• Routine: Repetition leads to greater skill and greater benefits.