About Pilates
Developed by Joseph Pilates (pronounced Puh-LAH-tees) in the early part of the 20th century, Pilates is a unique, full body exercise system everyone can do, regardless of age or fitness level.
Emphasizing breath, control and precision, Pilates focuses on strengthening the core postural muscles of the body which help keep the body balanced and which are essential to providing support for the spine and increasing flexibility in the arms, legs and supporting muscle groups.
Pilates is a unique combination designed to strengthen your body while creating awareness and connection of body, mind and breath.
Pilates is a truly effective workout that completely engages your body and your mind. It is low impact, painless, and emphasizes quality over quantity.
Emphasizing breath, control and precision, Pilates focuses on strengthening the core postural muscles of the body which help keep the body balanced and which are essential to providing support for the spine and increasing flexibility in the arms, legs and supporting muscle groups.
Pilates is a unique combination designed to strengthen your body while creating awareness and connection of body, mind and breath.
Pilates is a truly effective workout that completely engages your body and your mind. It is low impact, painless, and emphasizes quality over quantity.
Six Principles of Pilates
BREATH
Everything begins with breath. Connect your breath to movement. Inhale as you prepare for the movement and exhale as you execute the movement. Deep (diaphragmatic) breathing into the back of the rib cage creates a free flow of cleansing oxygen--improving circulation, releasing tension and helping to organize postural alignment of the skeleton.
CONCENTRATION
Be present. Your body and mind are a team. Focus your mind on what your body is doing and give every exercise your full attention. Honing your kinesthetic awareness will help you to reeducate your muscles and reduce injury and imbalances stemming from bad posture and repetitive motion.
CENTERING
Stabilize and initiate movement from the supportive muscles near the skeletal frame and the deep abdominal muscles. Joseph Pilates referred to this as working from a strong core or "girdle of strength." And whether it’s called the core, the powerhouse or simply the gut— the center is the safest and most effective starting place for movement, and focusing on it will transform how you move.
CONTROL
The most challenging and most important principle, control keeps movements from being careless or hazardous. Do not use momentum to move the body—concentrate, breath and use your core to initiate and complete each movement with precision. Mastering control will help you get the most out of this method of training as well as prevent injury.
PRECISION
Pilates emphasizes quality over quantity. Precision is what makes Pilates so efficient—a single perfect and precise Pilates move is more beneficial than 50 crunches powered out.
FLOW
Strive to make your movements slow and fluid. Once you’ve mastered the exercises, you’ll find that one movement will flow smoothly into the next. Your movement and breath flow through your body releasing tension—the rhythm establishes grace, increases flexibility and has meditative benefits.
Everything begins with breath. Connect your breath to movement. Inhale as you prepare for the movement and exhale as you execute the movement. Deep (diaphragmatic) breathing into the back of the rib cage creates a free flow of cleansing oxygen--improving circulation, releasing tension and helping to organize postural alignment of the skeleton.
CONCENTRATION
Be present. Your body and mind are a team. Focus your mind on what your body is doing and give every exercise your full attention. Honing your kinesthetic awareness will help you to reeducate your muscles and reduce injury and imbalances stemming from bad posture and repetitive motion.
CENTERING
Stabilize and initiate movement from the supportive muscles near the skeletal frame and the deep abdominal muscles. Joseph Pilates referred to this as working from a strong core or "girdle of strength." And whether it’s called the core, the powerhouse or simply the gut— the center is the safest and most effective starting place for movement, and focusing on it will transform how you move.
CONTROL
The most challenging and most important principle, control keeps movements from being careless or hazardous. Do not use momentum to move the body—concentrate, breath and use your core to initiate and complete each movement with precision. Mastering control will help you get the most out of this method of training as well as prevent injury.
PRECISION
Pilates emphasizes quality over quantity. Precision is what makes Pilates so efficient—a single perfect and precise Pilates move is more beneficial than 50 crunches powered out.
FLOW
Strive to make your movements slow and fluid. Once you’ve mastered the exercises, you’ll find that one movement will flow smoothly into the next. Your movement and breath flow through your body releasing tension—the rhythm establishes grace, increases flexibility and has meditative benefits.
