What is Pilates?

The history of Pilates
Pilates was created in the 1920's by Joseph Hubertus Pilates (1880-1967). Joseph Pilates was a sickly child whom suffered from asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever. He dedicated his entire life to overcome his illnesses by developing a routine of exercises to improve his physical strength, concentrating specifically on his core muscles.

Having moved from Germany to England in his early 30's he was placed in an internment camp in World War 1 where he worked as a nurse and trained other interns in physical fitness. It was here that he began to develop equipment by attaching springs to beds so that those patients who were immobile could aid their recovery by doing light resistance exercises.

Joseph Pilates then emigrated to America where he opened his first studio and refined his Contrology method.

What is Pilates?
The Pilates Method is not just a series of exercises, but a complete approach to developing body awareness.

Pilates concentrates on developing the strength of the core stability muscles and in so doing improves posture alignment, flexibility, endurance and strength.

It is a low-impact form of exercise that can help to refresh and de-stress you.

Why Pilates?
Back pain is the leading cause of disability in the UK. Recent research has shown that people who have suffered back pain and take on an exercise programme which concentrates on the core stability muscles have significant improvements. The core stability muscles consist of the deepest layers of the back, pelvic floor and abdominal muscle groups. The core stability muscles act as the body’s natural corset, protecting the spine from further damage as well as correcting posture. During pain these muscles become weak. With the correct exercise programme these muscles can be restored and the chance of the pain returning reduced. This is just one of the many reasons to partake
in Pilates.