Pilates

Pilates was developed in 1920 by Joseph Pilates. Pilates developed this form of exercise to remedy ill health.   Pilates believed that physical and mental health were interrelated. He developed contrology as a form of rehab for soldiers and ballet dancers. 

The classical Pilates workout is made up of 34 exercises that were originally published in 1954.  The traditional workout is a challenging series of exercises especially for the abdominals. The order of the exercise was well throughout and studied to get the most benefit from the series. Joseph Pilates believed the order was as important as the exercise themselves. 

Pilates teaching ballet dancersImages Courtesy of Manx National Heritage

When Joe moved to the United States and opened his studio he shared an address with the New York City Ballet.  Pilates methods became widely used by the New York City ballerinas, and continued to grow among dancers.


Joseph Pilates was an internee at a hospital in Knockaloe, during World War I.  British interned him as a German enemy alien.  He worked as a nurse and was hired to help patients exercise in their beds.  He took springs out of the beds, attached them to the top and bottom and used them for resistance.  This is where the Pilates reformer came from. 

Pilates was a gymnast and boxer in his youth.  He used the Turnverein exercises in his gymnastics training to help develop his exercise regime.  My son and I compared pictures of the original Turnverein training when doing a history report on gymnastics.  The similarities are amazing.  Even though my son teases me about being a Pilates instructor he has admitted that doing the Pilates does help his body for his gymnastics workouts. 

Pilates is an amazing form of exercise.  It creates a connection between your mind, body and soul. Pilates focuses on core strength, spinal stability, long lean muscles, and so much more. It is a full body, low impact workout that can help correct posture, build muscle endurance, and flexibility.  It is a series of controlled movements with a focus on doing the exercises in conjunction with your breathing.  I cannot stress enough how importing breath control is when exercising.

Anyone can do Pilates.  There are so many modifications and alternatives to accommodate all levels; from the very beginner to the well trained athlete. Beginners will benefit by working through the modifications and building strength, flexibility and confidence to live a strong pain-free lifestyle. Nothing in Pilates should ever hurt! You should feel a nice stretch and muscles should feel like they are working, but never pain.  Athletes will learn to breathe properly during their workouts, learn to use their core to support their body when being strained, and work on flexibility to keep joints and muscles healthy. Pilates is a great supplement to any strenuous athletic workout.

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