About Pilates: The Pilates Method is a body conditioning program developed over 70 years ago by the German athlete and physical therapy pioneer Joseph Pilates. It is a versatile approach to fitness which can benefit everyone from the professional dancer to the sedentary office worker. Targeting the postural muscles of the human body, Pilates builds strength from inside-out, bringing the body into correct alignment and re-educating it about more efficient movement patterns. Pilates focuses on strengthening and articulating the muscles at the “core” of the body – the abdominals, lower back muscles and buttocks. Because of its emphasis on the “lengthening” contraction of the muscle, and its attention to correct form with fewer movement repetitions, Pilates builds strength without adding bulk- Pilates muscles are long and lean, rather than short and big. The uniqueness of Pilates lies also in its precise, controlled and flowing movements - as in dance, the body learns to move freely and smoothly without tension.
“You will feel better after ten sessions, look better after twenty, and have a completely new body after thirty. “ (Joseph Pilates)
Benefits of the Pilates Method:
- Improved flexibility
- Improved strength and muscle tone
- Toned abdominals, back, buttocks, shoulders and thighs
- A stronger, more flexible spine
- Better posture (you will literally stand taller!) and an overall sense of length and balance through the body
- Greater joint mobility and general agility
- Reduced incidence of tension, back pain and neck pain
- Improved circulation
- Improved performance for dancers, athletes and other “performance” professionals