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Our philosophy is grounded in the classic method of Joseph Pilates and is a
systematic training approach that’s proven to produce excellent instructors.
Pilates is a form of exercise, developed by
Joseph Pilates, which emphasizes the
balanced development of the body through
core strength, flexibility, and
awareness in order to support efficient, graceful movement.
Pilates is one of the most popular exercise systems in the country.
It seems like everyone is either doing Pilates, or interested in starting a
Pilates exercise program. Indeed, one of the best things about the Pilates
method is that it works so well for a wide range of people.
Athletes and dancers love it, as do seniors, women rebounding from pregnancy,
and people who at various stages of physical rehabilitation.
The top benefits doing of Pilates exercise that people report are that they
become stronger, longer, leaner, and more able to do anything with grace and
ease.
Pilates is an Adaptable Method
Modification is the key to Pilates exercise success with a variety of
populations. All exercises are developed with modifications that can make a
workout safe and challenging for a person at any level.
Read more about Pilates modifications:
Pilates Modifications and Safety
Precautions
Core Strength
Core strength is the foundation of Pilates exercise. The core muscles are the
deep, internal muscles of the abdomen and back. When the core muscles are strong
and doing their job, as they are trained to do in Pilates, they work in tandem
with the more superficial muscles of the trunk to support the spine and
movement.
As you develop your core strength you develop stability throughout your entire
torso. This is one of the keys to how Pilates helps people overcome back pain.
As the trunk is properly stabilized, pressure on the back is relieved and the
body is able to move freely and efficiently.
The Six Pilates Principles:
Centering, Control, Flow, Breath, Precision, and Concentration:
These six Pilates principles are essential ingredients in a high quality Pilates
workout. The Pilates method has always emphasized quality over quantity, and you
will find that, unlike many systems of exercise, Pilates exercises do not
include a lot of repetitions for each move. Instead, doing each exercise fully,
with precision, yields significant results in a shorter time than one would ever
imagine. Read
The Six Pilates Principles for more on these important
philosophical foundations of Pilates.
Pilates is a Unique Method of Exercise.
Core strength and torso stability, along with the six Pilates principles, set
the Pilates method apart from many other types of exercise. Weight lifting, for
example, can put a lot of attention on arm or leg strength without attending
much to the fact that those parts are connected to the rest of the body! Even
running or swimming can seem like all arms and legs, with either a floppy or
overly tense core. Ultimately those who really succeed at their sport learn to
use their core muscles, but in Pilates this integrative approach is learned from
the beginning.
Mat Work and Equipment
Pilates exercises are done on either on a mat on the floor, Pilates Mat Work, or
on exercise equipment developed by Joseph Pilates. The workout equipment that we
use in Pilates generally utilizes pulleys and resistance from the participants
own body weight on the machine and graduated levels of springs. The
reformer is
probably the best-known piece of resistance equipment that you will encounter at
a Pilates studio.

Joseph Pilates
The Pilates Method of exercise was developed by
Joseph Pilates in the 1920s. It
was originally used as a rehabilitation program for prisoners of war and was
later found to be of great benefit to anyone seeking a higher level of fitness.
The work was kept alive over the years by a small group of Joseph Pilates
devoted students until just a few years ago; when exercise science caught up to
the principles that Pilates had been teaching all along, and now we enjoy the
rich evolution of the Pilates work that we have today.
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