Pilates was formed by Joseph Pilates during the First World War with the proposed intention to improve the rehabilitation programme for casualties. During this period, Pilates was designed to aid injured soldiers regain their health by strengthening, stretching, and stabilizing key muscles. The method has revolutionised over the years but the original principles still apply with Pilates coming to the forefront of today’s society with fitness centre’s and celebrities such as Madonna, John Cleese, and Liz Hurley realizing the all-round health benefit. Pilates has now become one of the most popular forms of exercise throughout the world, and is pronounced “Puh Lah Teez”. Pilates is simply a physical fitness process that requires the control of the mind, strengthens the body’s core, and provides a self-confidence and well-being.
Pilates is suitable for a wide range of people - from the older generation looking for a more passive but equally as effective workout - to top athletes, golfers, horse riders, gymnasts and dancers. It really is an activity for all to enjoy! As mentioned, Pilates is an activity that strengthens your core muscles including your back, stomach, and rear end. These core muscles provide the essence and control for general life activities such as walking, sitting, and standing to carrying the shopping and hanging curtains.
Another great reason to start using Pilates in your daily routine is the improvement in your mind-body connection. To perform Pilates successfully, the participant must always have their mind-engaged in the activity as breathing elements together with the correct body movement is critical. The concentration related to breathing (exhaling and inhaling) requires a real mental focus that is absent from many other forms of physical activity i.e. running, cycling, or rowing. Many Pilate’s experts have called this mind-body connection almost quasi-spiritual in nature.
Pilates also helps to control your body movements through the art of coordinating the muscles through a variety of exercises involving weights, ball exercises, or just simple stretching. All exercises involve non-excessive physical activity that works the majority of the body to improve strength, flexibility, and act as prevention to pain and injuries (in particularly the back).
So whether you choose a workout that focuses on
toning your arms,
strengthening and shaping the abdominals, or
preventing back and neck ache; Pilates is the exercise that will benefit everyone. The prospect of improved muscle strength (including the core), increased self-confidence and well-being, better body-mind connection, enhanced flexibility, improved alignment of the spine, and the prevention of pain and injuries are only a handful of reasons why Pilates should be part of everyone’s daily routines.
