Pilates is a popular movement regimen that uses special stretches and machines, dramatically improving strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, posture. It works the whole body while focusing on proper alignment increasing range of movement, freeing you from poor postural habits while relieving tension and fatigue. Pilates develops a strong abdominal centre which helps alleviate back pain and improves performance in all aspects of life.
It is named after it’s creator, Joseph H. Pilates, who was born in Germany in 1880. He was a gymnast, bodybuilder, martial artist and boxer, circus performer, and fitness innovator who designed a number of ingenious machines using pulleys and springs for resistance. In 1926, he moved to New York City his studio quickly became popular with dancers like Martha Graham and George Ballanchine who appreciated the emphasis on overall strength and flexibility over bulk.
There’s been a recent upsurge in its popularity: Madonna, Clint Eastwood Australian triathlete Marc Dragon, to name a few, lauding it’s benefits to improve fitness, body shape and performance. However, anyone can benefit from the Pilates Method, from 10 years old to the elderly and at any level of fitness or ability.
There is also a great interest among Physiotherapists other rehabilitation specialists who find Pilates-based exercise to be very useful for many of their patients, due in part to its approach to Core Stabilization; this is recognized as of prime importance in the care and prevention of back pain, the rehabilitation of many musculoskeletal conditions.