What is Pilates?

​Pilates improves your quality of life.  The practice challenges the body to open and expand its understanding of itself so that it can perform at its best. 

 

Pilates is a system of movement and exercises created and developed by German-born athlete and physical therapy pioneer, Joseph Hubertus Pilates. Utilizing his specially designed equipment, this innovative method educates, re-patterns, realigns and balances your body.  It promotes maximum muscle strength while increasing flexibility, coordination and stamina.

 

Pilates also decompresses and, consequently, stimulates and improves circulation.  This enhanced circulation, combined with increased strength, range of motion, and a more balanced musculature, promotes healthy tissue and precise, efficient movement patterns.

 

Pilates strengthens and stretches, frees you from poor postural habits, helps heal back, neck and other joint problems, and alleviates tension and fatigue. Physicians, physical therapists, dancers and athletes have long revered Pilates as a powerful healing and educational physical training system. 

 

The Pilates Method shapes bodies.  It slims the muscles and makes them more compact, developing sleekness rather than bulk.  It turns the abdomen and lower back and hips into a firm central support for a newly supple and graceful body.

 

Pilates, whether practiced in classes, on the mat, or with a trainer on the equipment, is considered a mind, body and spirit workout.  The smooth, almost dance-like motions and an emphasis on proper breathing leave participants feeling refreshed and open.  The exercises require concentration, control, precision, specific breathing patterns and dynamic, fluid movements.  Deep abdominal muscles remain fully engaged during the workout, while torso, arm and leg movements are performed against body, gravity or spring resistance.