What is Pilates?
What is Pilates?
Developed by Joseph Pilates during the 1920s, Pilates is a system of exercises to promote core strength, overall strength, stability, and flexibility. Along with paying close attention to the little stabilizing muscles throughout the body. The technique promotes awareness of the body, beginning from the core, to support everyday movements that are refined and graceful. Beginning as a popular exercise and recovery regimen among dancers and grew in appeal to a wider audience by the early 2000’s.
Pilates Definition
Pi·la·tes
/pəˈläˌdēz/
noun
a system of exercises using special apparatus, designed to improve physical strength, flexibility, and posture, and enhance mental awareness.
Pilates Principles
Breath- Pilates exercises coordinate with the breath and is often thought of as the most important principle. Breathing correctly connect your mind and body, connecting your awareness.
Concentration- Concentration brings awareness to your movements, yielding maximum results from each movement through focus and full attention.
Centre- All Pilates exercises begin at the core, and centering brings awareness of the center of your body. Specifically the area between your lower ribs and pelvic bone, focusing on the core and pelvic floor.
Control- Muscular control is essential for every pilates exercise. Every body part is engaged with deliberate movement. This also engages the mind as you learn to use it to control your body with intention.
Precision- Focus is on perfecting technique to promote healthy habits and movement patterns, while also breaking bad habits developed over time.
Flow- Pilates is done with fluid movements and each exercise engages the entire body and flows from one exercise to the next while engaging the entire body in a balanced and even way.
History of Pilates
Joseph Hubertus Pilates
Creator of Pilates was Joseph Hubertus Pilates. He lived from December 9, 1883 until October 9, 1967. Born in Mönchengladbach, Germany to a Greek father and German mother. Suffering from constant illness as a child, he was influenced by his father who was a gymnast and boxer. Pilates dedicated himself to improving his health and strength, and eventually he traveled to England in 1913 and worked as a circus tumbler.
Upon the emergence of World War I the next year, Pilates was arrested along with his circus troupe, and detained on the Isle of Man. While incarcerated, he taught more than 24,000 inmates physical fitness alongside other physical enthusiasts. It was during his incarceration Pilates developed his theory on fitness.
After the war, Pilates was sent back to Germany. There he learned from medical experts while formulating his ideas on fitness. Pilates’ ideas were shaped by working with soldiers during the war, his father’s experience in sport, and the renewed intellectual era in Germany when the arts and sciences had a bit of a renaissance. With all his experience he created a system of exercises that he developed to be corrective for the body and improve posture, strength, and breathing. He introduced his fitness regimen to the United States in the late 1920s.
Medical Community
Pilates was popular among dancers and small institutions in Manhattan from the 1920’s-60’s. It wasn’t widely accepted among the medical community until the 1980’s. Recognizing the value in Pilates training, Dr. James Garrick created one of the first dance medicine clinics in 1983 and became the first medically-affiliated Pilates program. Simultaneously, NYC orthopedists started referring patients to Pilates.
By the mid-90’s, Pilates had become a well-regarded practice among the medical community and general population. In the early 2000’s, there was a lawsuit that denied using the term Pilates as a trademark, opening the fitness world more access to the regimen and developing multiple types of Pilates that we know today.
Types of pilates
Reformer Pilates
Our speciality here at Pilate Barre Lex. Pilates exercises done with machines known as “reformers” are called reformer Pilates. Up to 60 kinds of exercises can be done using this specialized machine, and should should only be performed under a trained instructor’s supervision.
STOTT Pilates
STOTT Pilates is another practice here at the studio. The main focus of STOTT pilates is restoring the natural curvature of the spine while improving the condition and use of muscles and joints. This is a popular option for those who may have sever pain in the neck, shoulders, and spine. Hannah has a background and attended STOTT training in Atlanta, GA. STOTT is considered contemporary Pilates.
Classical Pilates
Differing from Stott, classical pilates focuses on the flat back while exercising instead of the natural curve of the spine, and doesn’t require any machines, although it can be done on reformers. Classic Pilates is the original form of Pilates developed by Joseph Pilates. This type is a sequence of exercises that follow steps in a specific order, from the basic foundation exercises to the more advanced gradually. The smooth and purposeful transition from one exercise to the next, and its sequence, are the base concepts behind the classical style.
Mat Pilates
Mat Pilates is done on, well, a mat! This is a stripped down version of pilates, with no need for extra equipment. The mat, while similar to a yoga mat, is a bigger in area and thickness. Great for when you can’t get out of the house, and want to get in a quick workout.
Clinical Pilates
Since gaining popularity because of its benefits, Pilates became a staple in the therapeutic industry. Clinical Pilates is a therapeutic exercise for patients who have sustained injuries and need a rehabilitation regimen. Qualified physiotherapists customize exercises depending on the injury on the body and health history of the patient. This type of Pilates is claimed to accelerating recovery after surgery, reduce chronic pain, and stabilize the neck and back muscles.
Contemporary Pilates
Pilates Barre Lex is considered a Contemporary Pilates Studio. This type of Pilates adds other types of exercises in with classical Pilates. Other categories may include yoga, physiotherapy, aerobics, or out favorite, barre in our Fusion classes! Contemporary Pilates is modified and adapted for each individual - we are able to teach TO the class and program a class based on who is attending that day and time. We appreciate the classical roots, but consider ourselves a contemporary studio. In a contemporary pilates class, you’ll see instructors use various equipment along with different props such as bands, rollers, dumbbells, and more along with Pilates mats and reformers.
How to join a class-
Here at Pilates Barre Lex, we specialize in Stott Reformer Pilates with a hybrid of barre. Join a Pilates class today!
