What is Pilates?
“What even is Pilates anyway?”
You might have heard of it, you’re best friend might swear by it, but having never actually tried it you might be thinking just that…what is it?!
So I’m here to answer your question, in the hopes of shedding a little light on this fantastic yet mysterious method!
So to tell you what it is I will take you briefly back to the start - when, where and who created it.
Mr Joseph Pilates, is the mastermind behind this awesome method. He created it over 100 years ago (see it’s not some new age fad!) as a full integrated system of exercise that would help to reverse the effects of modern life on the body.
He studied a variety of methods that inspired his creation of Pilates (then named ‘Contrology’); these were gymnastics, boxing, yoga, tai chi and even studied animals and the way they moved.
He firmly believed in the benefits of exercise in maintaining a healthy body and mind. The first ever studio was opened in New York City in the 1920s.
So now you have a little understanding of its background (if you’d like to know more head to my ‘Pilates: A history’ blog post here) we can begin to dive into explaining what the method actually is.
Pilates is a system of exercises that are designed to strengthen your entire body, teaching you the most optimal way to move. The aim is to work with the key principles - Concentration, Control, Centring, Breath, Precision & Flow.
Depending on whether you practice Pilates matwork or Pilates apparatus will determine the style of movement but the principles remain the same.
Each class will begin to bring awareness to your body, giving you the knowledge of how to move your body for maximum reward and minimum effort.
Matwork (technically some of the hardest parts of the repertoire) will be practiced with you and your mat. Sometimes small props are introduced to give you a little more support or feedback, but ultimately you will be gaining awareness of your body by moving it through full ranges of motion to build your strength, stretch and stamina. If practiced regularly you will begin to notice improvements in your posture, your strength and your breathing.
Apparatus work involves working on pieces of apparatus that have springs attached which give you more resistance, this both makes the work more challenging but also slightly easier due to having greater feedback of what is happening within your body as you move.
Whether on the mat or apparatus, your entire body will be worked within each session. Giving you the chance to build muscles from within, for lasting strength and vitality.
If you fancy trying a session or would like to discuss which class will be the best fit for you then simply head to my timetable or get in touch.
The very best way to find out what pilates is is to try it for yourself.
“Pilates is the complete coordination of body, mind and spirit”