Pilates is an exercise regime based around improving core stability and understanding where your body is in space. It involves using the breath to help create an intra-abdominal pressure which automatically engages the small stabilising muscles (pelvic floor, transverse abdominus, diaphram and mulifidus) to activate which in turn strengthens them.
Pilates Benefits
At Re:Align Pilates, the exercises given to you will:
• Provide safe environment for pre and post natal strengthening
• Increase muscle flexibility and mobility
• Assist muscle imbalances by strengthening weak areas
• Improve core strength, provide spinal support and a relief to back pain
• Enhance performance
• Identify overworked muscles and ease muscle tension
• Improve strength, body control and mind/body awareness
“If your spine is inflexible at 30, you are old. If it is completely flexible at 60, you are young” Joseph Pilates
Pilates Method Principles
There are six principles that define what the Pilates Method is trying to achieve and underlies the philosophy of Pilates. They include:
Concentration
Provides us with body awareness and total body control, reinforcing the intention of the exercise.
Control
Every movement and breath is intentional – mind/ body training.
Centering
The powerhouse or ‘core’ relates to muscles around the abdomen, lower back and pelvis all which help stabilise and provide the strength centre for the rest of the body.
Precision
Accuracy of each movement is far more important than repetition. This helps to achieve good neuromuscular patterning.
Breathing
Is as important as the movement itself. The breath is integral to muscle relaxation, it enlivens the body with oxygen and creates an underlying rhythm to the exercise.
Flowing movement
Each exercise flows like a dance from beginning to end, developing the grace and ease of movement that we so desire.
“My method develops the body uniformly, corrects wrong posture, restores physical vitality, invigorates the mind and elevates the spirit” Joseph Pilates
Who was Joseph Pilates?
Joseph Pilates was a German born American who originally developed what he called ‘Contrology’ in the early 20th Century.
During WW1, while in England training as a boxer, he was placed in an internment camp where he began developing exercises for injured soldiers. Joseph attached springs to their beds enabling them to work against a resistance. This simulated functional movements which corrected muscle imbalances and weaknesses and quickly restored the soldiers to good health.
Joseph Pilates was an eccentric character but a true visionary. He understood the connection between the mind and physical body, recognising the importance of mind and breath to help facilitate correct muscle recruitment – effectively working the body smarter, not harder. As a result, Joseph’s training philosophy has changed rehabilitation and body conditioning workouts around the world. The reason? It works. It works for people of all ages, sex and health status.