What is Pilates? This is a common question asked by those interested to take this discipline. To answer the question on what is Pilates; here is a little background on the description and the history of Pilates.
Your Pilates program is a form of exercise developed by Joseph H. Pilates in 1920’s, which focuses on the balanced development of the body through core strength (torso), flexibility and awareness in order to support graceful and efficient movement yet, without adding muscle bulk. It uses controlled movements through mat exercises or equipment for toning and body strengthening. So if you are a health buff and figure conscious individual, you might want to consider doing the exercises under Pilates.
The founder of this disciple was born a frail child who was suffering from asthma and other childhood frailties. In order to get stronger and to build his body, he took up different sports and later became an accomplished athlete. During World War I, he was a nurse in Great Britain, where he designed exercise movements and equipments for rehabilitation of immobilized and bed ridden patients and soldiers, so the birth of Pilates exercises, which was later found to be of great benefit to anybody who is seeking a higher level of fitness.
The proper understanding of what is Pilates should always include a research on the beliefs and motivations of its author. Joseph Pilates believed that our mental and physical health are intertwined thus designing the program using concentration, centering, precision, control, breathing, and flowing movements.
There are two ways of Pilates exercise. The mat exercise and the use of machines to tone and strengthen the body both using the principles of resistance. Nowadays, most people do the Pilates using the mat exercise which requires floor and mat training only and as mentioned using the body’s own weight as resistance. Pilates exercise works well to a wide range of people, from dancers, athletes aging women and not to mention pregnant women and people who are undergoing different process and stages of rehabilitation.
What is Pilates? Now that you know the answer to this question, now is the perfect time to get started and reap the rewards.