What is Pilates?

JOSEPH PILATES 1880 - 1967

Joseph Pilates had a sickly childhood and recognised from an early age that he needed an exercise programme to help him regain his strength. He took an eclectic approach and drew on many different exercise modalities. Over the years he developed his own unique approach to regaining strength and flexibility, and used many of his exercises to help rehabilitate veterans of the First World War.

After the war he developed his own training studio in America where he coached dancers, gymnasts and athletes. All of his exercises were tailored to the individual and their specific postural needs.

Over the years his methods and philosophy of a mind/body approach to exercise has developed in many ways. Pilates has further developed his philosophy and brought many of his movements into the 21st century. Through sports science, neuropsychology, and learning more about the processes underlying the control of movements, the Pilates method is helping to re-train and rehabilitate a wide range of postural problems.

Research indicates that Pilates can aid Injury prevention and assist recovery from sports injuries, surgery and Illness. In addition Pilates can help improve problems such as:

• Back, neck and shoulder discomfort
• Knee and joint problems
• Arthritis
• Sacroiliac discomfort
• Pelvic floor weakness