Pilates
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The Pilates Method is a physical fitness system which was developed in the early 20th century by German-American Joseph Pilates. Joseph Pilates called the method The Art of Contrology, which refers to the way the method encourages the use of the mind to control the muscles.
In World War I, Joseph Pilates served as a medic for the captured German forces interned in Britain. He was investigating ways that soldiers could rehabilitate themselves while bed-ridden. Thus the creation of a series of movements that could be done in this position was created. The Pilates Reformer is based off an old hospital bed.
Instead of performing many repetitions of each exercise, Joseph H. Pilates preferred fewer, more precise movements, requiring proper control and form. He designed more than 500 specific exercises. The most frequent form, called "matwork", involves a series of calisthenic motions performed without weight or apparatus on a padded mat. Joseph Pilates also designed five major pieces of unique exercise equipment that should optimally be used for best results. Despite being taught separately now, Pilates Technique was always meant to combine Mat and Equipment exercises. In all forms, the "powerhouse" (abdomen, lower back, and buttocks) is supported and strengthened, enabling the rest of the body to move freely.
As with yoga, the human body itself is used as "weights" in training, to build strength, and flexibility is targeted, without a focus on high-powered cardiovascular exercise. It was originally used to bring injured dancers back to full fitness, the idea being more to build bodily co-ordination and flexibility than stamina or muscle strength.
In recent years, many Pilates students have see important parallels with the Alexander Technique, and the discoveries of F. Matthias Alexander. It has been used to train dancers in flexibility and physical strength. The first official Pilates Studio (http://www.pilates-studio.com/) was opened in New York in 1926. In recent years it has become a popular fitness modality with many stars attributing their successful weight loss and increased muscle tone to Pilates.
As the technique became more and more popular throughout the 1990's there was a tremendous growth in people teaching Pilates without proper education or certification. This, in turn, has led to dilution of the technique, poor results and to people being injured with this technique. Make sure to do your research (http://www.premierpilates.net/WhenChoosingAStudio.htm) before picking a studio to take a Pilates class in.
External links
- Yoga and Pilates (http://Yoga-n-Pilates.com) Information on these two techniques from a Yoga/Pilates NJ studio in USA
- Pilates and Alexander (http://pilatesandalexander.com) Information on these two somatic pioneers
- Find a pilates class in Australia (http://www.findpilates.com.au) A yoga directory for Australia
- Healthy Weight forum (http://www.healthyweightforum.org/eng/articles/pilates/) about Pilates
- A simple guide (http://zooleika.org.uk/rec/pilates.html) to some Pilates exercises, with illustrations
- A longer description (http://www.riderpilates.com/aboutpilates.html) of theory behind Pilates and its unique equipment
- Pilates Madrid (http://www.elitepilates.net) Pilates center in Madridde:Pilates