Get Fit With Pilates

In the 20th century Joseph Pilate developed a physical fitness system named Pilates Method or simply pilates. He referred to this method as Contrology as it encouraged the use of mind to control the muscles. Pilates wrote two books on the pilates method of exercise. The books titled Return to Life Through Contrology and Your Health: A Collective System of Exercising That Revolutionizes the Entire Field of Physical Education give a detailed insight of what this physical fitness program is all about.

What Pilates Is All About

Pilates or contrology lays emphasis on the core postural muscles. These muscles provide support to the spine and keep the body balanced. The pilates exercise program teaches proper breathing and creates awareness of the breadth. It strengthens the deep torso muscles as they alleviate and prevent backaches. Alignment of the spine with the body must be correct. All of these techniques can be learned through pilates. Many professional boxers, dancers, and athletes have successfully improved their flexibility and strength through learning and practicing pilates.

Beginning of Pilates

Joseph Pilates started his profession very early. However, he became popular when he started teaching professional boxers and policemen after the WWI. In 1926, Pilates moved to New York and opened his first training studio. He believed in performing precise exercises that required form and control. Repetitive exercises were not taught in his training studio. More than 500 specific exercises were developed by Pilates. Mat work is a frequent form of exercise that does not require any apparatus or weight. It is performed on a padded mat with a series of callisthenic motions.

Pilates was of the thinking that both physical and mental health complement each other and are essential. He created a total body conditioning method. His method emphasized proper alignment, control, centering, precision, breathing, concentration, and flowing movements. These are the main principles of pilates and they result in an increased awareness of the body, toned muscles, and increased flexibility, energy, and strength, along with improved mental concentration.

Unique Exercise System

Pilates also designed five major exercise equipments. His methods initially included combining mat work and equipment exercises. However, presently these are taught separately. The unique exercising technique of pilates supports and strengthens the body and makes it move freely. This gives the person a healthy feeling. Through pilates, the powerhouse of the body, which involves the buttocks, lower back, and abdomen all get great toning.

The use of the own body as weights is a unique method. While exercising, pilates practitioners use of their own bodies as weights. This increases flexibility and builds strength. Many therapists today, make use of pilates for rehabilitation process. This exercising regime optimizes acquisition of movement. It reduces the destructive forces drastically and helps people to face challenging movements with success.