German-born Joseph Pilates, gave his name to these exercises, and
designed a series of movements to be achieved with regular practice and
using alignment and movement procedures.
It is a series of exercise principles which are gentle, subtle, very
effective, but needs commitment and patience to require long-term
Pilates benefits. The exercises are performed in a similar manner to
some martial-arts or dance forms, where the movements are graceful and
controlled but also strength is built up in the various muscle parts of
the body to obtain perfect results years down the line. It works on a
mind and balanced body. The floor exercises were developed to give the
body a fully combined work-out programme, with strengthening, stretching
and with ease of control. The overall aim of Pilates is to give
ultimate movement and individual control over the torso and limbs.
Joseph Pilates was an expert on the fusion of dance and movement. His
belief was that whatever your job or whatever the body needed to
undertake to provide the daily work, the body could be trained to be
ideal to deal with anything.
The Pilate exercises are practised on the floor and sometimes with a
large rubber band, Pilates band or towel to give some resistance.
Pilates does not take up much room, unlike other forms of exercise, and
this makes Pilates at home an ideal exercise for stay-at-home-mums. The
exercise is done quietly, so it can be suited for when little ones are
napping. It is also an inexpensive exercise once you have brought the
basics such as a DVD and a Pilates band, which is all that you will
require, and if you like you can do it in the comfort of your own home,
whenever you want. The Pilates DVD’s are available from Pilates for
beginners, right up to an advanced level and you can learn Pilates at
your own pace when it is right for you.
Pilates is becoming a very popular exercise and tends to be opening
at many of the gym’s and dance studios around the country.
Unfortunately, sometimes when it is practised in classes a lot of the
mind part of the Pilates is forgotten and everybody watches each other
instead of concentrating on postures. If you can stay focused in a class
that is not too big it will work for you.
All ages and abilities can perform Pilates, but Pilates is very much
an individual and personal programme that you follow according to your
own time and energy. That doesn’t mean to say that you do different
exercises to anyone else. It’s like yoga or tai chi, you do your own
exercise your own way, and no two people will do it the same way. If you
have ever watched a film of several people doing tai chi, the
difference from one person to another can be quite amazing, they are all
doing the same form, but with different ages, different sizes,
different health and of course different bodies. It is a mind exercise
as well, so most of the time, especially in large groups, people do not
notice what the person next to them are doing, or what they are wearing.
Pilates is not a competitive exercise, and comparisons are not required
or needed.
The Pilates benefits will naturally vary from person to person
because of the different body types, strengths and weaknesses. Generally
Pilates will help the physical re-alignment and strength of the
skeletal frame. It will improve overall fitness and wellbeing, help with
pain management, prevention of any injury and tones the whole body.
Pilates was first introduced in the early part of the 1900’s and the
founder Joseph Pilate himself practised it daily until his death in
1960. His amazing exercise of combining concentration, breathing,
precision, centring or core work, control and fluidity all in the one
exercise was in its self a symbol of the perfection that he was trying
to attain for his own body, and this knowledge is being passed on to you
for your own enjoyment, happiness and enlightenment.
If you decide to give Pilates a try, it can be fun but also hard
work. I have given you a brief outline of what are Pilates and the
Pilates benefits. Like anything you only get out what you put in.