What is Pilates!

As we grow up we copy the role models around us. This includes copying their body positioning. Unfortunately bad posture is very common so we unconsciously learn sticking our stomach out too far, tilting our heads (or pushing our heads forward), knock-knees, and a host of other problems.

Pilates helps us restore our body to its natural position by improving, amongst others, "core stability" (the shoulder girdle and pelvic girdle stability), flexibility (restoring the range of motion in our joints and back) and "lengthening" (undoing the compression in our joints and muscles).

Pilates is named after its creator, Joseph Pilates. Although he was grounded in a wide variety of classical fitness techniques from both the East (Yoga and Zen) and West (Roman and Greek) he created he own exercise system. Starting with the basics of all the exercises, "Mat Work", which are performed either standing or lying on a body length mat, he went on to add exercises based on various kinds of equipment.

Joseph worked on all these before, during and after World War One where, as a German living in England, he was interned. While helping injured soldiers he devised equipment based on hospital beds to help patients regain motion.

After the war he returned to Germany where Pilates (the called Contrology TM) became popular amongst dancers.

In the 1920s he left for the United States where his studio was next door to the New York City Ballet and the long association between dance and ballet continued as it does to this day.

After becoming popular in Hollywood in the 1970's Pilates has become well known all throughout North America and the UK.