Benefits of Pilates
“Physical fitness is the first requisite to happiness”
-Joseph Pilates
Our fitness-crazed society seems to agree. Throughout evolvement, we have come to realize that it’s not only the physical but also the mental that create balance for happiness. So, why are devotees looking back to a method of exercise that incorporates both of these qualities known as Pilates? Because it works!
Six Principles of Pilates
- Control
- Concentration
- Breathing
- Centering
- Precision
- Fluidity
The six principles of Pilates present a different approach to working out, but one that is challenging and rewarding. The “powerhouse” (a.k.a. the abdomen, lower back, and buttocks) is supported and strengthened, enabling the rest of the body to move from the center. Improving your technique is what keeps Pilates interesting.
Pilates conditioning uses specialized equipment and certified instructors to offers many physical benefits for both men and woman. Among these benefits:
- Reshapes and Tones the Whole Body
- Improves Alignment and Posture
- Tones the Stomach and Buttocks
- Creates Leaner Legs and Arms
- Enables Better Physiological Functioning
- Increases Energy and Stamina
- Restores and Maintains a Youthful Body
- Increases Flexibility
- Prevents Injury
- Peaks Performance in Athletic Endeavors
The Pilates method of exercise was created by Joseph Pilates, who was born in 1880 near Dusseldorf, Germany. Joe was frail as a child, suffering from asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever. He overcame his physical limitations with exercise and bodybuilding, eventually developing his own method of exercise. He designed more than 500 specific exercises using five major pieces of unique apparatus to develop the body uniformly.
Because your mind is required to engage with your body to perform the movements correctly, you experience a new awareness of muscle function and control. The mental and physical are combined to create confidence from renewed strength and flow. The whole body is worked by the Pilates system, allowing you to become a better athlete as well as an overall healthier and happier person.
Who Does Pilates?
Regardless of your current level of fitness, the Pilates Method can become your primary mode of body conditioning and injury prevention. Here are just a few people who have discovered Pilates:
- Madonna
- Uma Thurman
- Susan Lucci
- Sharon Stone
- Lou Gossett Jr.
- Sarah Jessica Parker
- Jodie Foster
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Danny Glover
- Kristy Yamaguchi
- Martina Navratilova
- Cleveland Indians’ Jim Thome