Pilates: The Perfect Exercise to a New Body

Pilates is an exercise system developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates. It spread from Germany to the UK and then the US. There were 11 million people who practiced this exercise in 2005, and over 14,000 instructors of pilates throughout the United States. The inventor named this exercise pilates because it comes from the greek words control and –logia. He believed that this exercise uses the mind to control the muscles throughout the body. It has a goal to increase strength, flexibility, and control of the body.

Basic Information on Pilates

The pilates method has a goal to develop controlled movement using a strong inner core, and looks to accomplish this by using a large range of apparatuses to train and guide the body. Pilates was originally developed as mat exercises, but also adds several pieces of apparatus to assist in the exercise method. Each of these incorporated apparatus has its own repertoire of exercises that are performed on different pieces of exercise equipment. Some of these pieces of equipment include springs for resistance training. In pilates other props are used such as small and large weighted balls, foam rollers, resistance bands, and rotating disks.

A lot of the smaller props allow people to do these exercises in their homes rather than having to go to a large studio. There are two different camps of pilates: Classicial and Authentic. The first book was published by Gail Eisen and Philip Friedman. It was published in 1980, and provided an outline of six different principles of pilates. These six principles include: control, center, flow, concentration, breathing, and precision.

Concentration

Pilates demands focus and concentration while performing the exercises. You have to ensure that you focus on what you’re doing at all times, and make sure to stay in tune with your whole body. The way the exercises are done is entirely important. There was even a study on the concentration factors that pilates has on patients with Parkinsons Disease.

Control

Control is for the muscle control that is needed for the pilates exercise. You need to be in control throughout the entire exercise and control every aspect throughout the work out. All of the specific exercises use control to move the body.

Centering

You have to have a starting place in the center of your body to gain control. This is the focal point of the Pilates method exercise. This is also called the powerhouse of the body. All movements in the exercise should begin from the powerhouse and move outward to all of the limbs in the body.

Flow of Movement

Pilates has a goal of having elegant movement and creating a flow through the use of the right transitions. Once this is achieved, the exercises can then flow within and into each to build strength and stamina. It should use physical energy from the center to coordinate movements.

Powerhouse

This is the region that provides stability and control in the lumbo-pelvic region. You can activate this inner powerhouse by doing a number of exercises laying down, sitting up, and standing up.

Breathing

There is a breathing technique that should be incorporated while doing the pilates technique. This will provide the powerhouse with more stability, control, and power while doing the exercises. This also helps the body relax entirely.

Precision

Precision is one of the more important aspects of the pilates exercise. This helps to concentrate on the movements and correct them each time the work out is performed. This also means that you do not do them incorrectly which defeats the purpose of the exercise. The exercises should become more of a second nature.

Providing yourself with a deeper understanding of the pilates movement provides you a deep understanding of the exercises at hand to better perform it. Better understanding of the pilated method will give your inner core a better way to recharge and refuel while doing the exercise. Since the pilates method incorporates a lot of inner work, it is essential that an understanding of the methods involved is sought after. The inner core should be worked on throughout the exercises to improve the entire method of the exercise.

For further reading on beginner, intermediate, and advanced pilates there are a number of links to websites that can provide you with further information. Increase your knowledge in the exercise that is spreading through the nation.

  • Balanced Body: Pilates: Official site of the pilates exercise. They have information regarding the exercise, as well as equipment that is used for it.
  • Kids Health Pilates: Detailed information on pilates and the basic rules to doing the exercise explained in simple terms.
  • Pilates Insight: Information regarding all of the 500 exercises that pilates involves in their workout.
  • MedicineNet: Pilates: Sectioned information on pilates for beginners, intermediate, and advanced pilates exercisers.
  • The Benefits of Pilates: Information on the many health benefits of pilates and what it can provide for your health.