Who developed Pilates?
Muscle imbalances and poor posture after a certain amount of time can create injuries. Many of us move in ways that neglect the stabilizing muscles of the body, and result in incorrect muscle firing patterns. This can happen in our daily life after prolonged sitting, incorrect squatting, or from injury such as a car accident. When we move incorrectly in some way it places too much pressure on some muscles and weakens others, and results in a muscle imbalance. Pilates helps strengthen the abdominals, back, and hips to balance out the body and re-align the joints in neutral. We want to achieve a neutral spine because it is the most shock-absorbing position for the body where the discs are evenly spaced.
When starting a Pilates regime, the Reformer is ideal because it gives people support to obtain neutral spine. This can assist with developing ideal movement patterns for the body and can prevent injury.
What is Pilates?
The primary goal of Pilates is to develop core strength and enhance functional stability and movement through the entire body, instead of working a series of independent muscle groups and parts. Pilates is similar to yoga in the sense participants stretch and strengthen muscles at the same time. Pilates is different from yoga in that students gain strength from continually moving, rather than holding a pose. Pilates also differs from yoga in that Pilates focuses more on achieving core strength and maintaining a healthy neutral spine alignment, and strengthening the stabilizing muscles of the body that are often under-utilized in other forms of exercise. Pilates is the perfect compliment to a regular cardiovascular routine, such as walking.
Pilates was developed by Joseph Pilates, born in 1880 in Germany. In 1920 he introduced his method called, Contrology to the United States and opened up a studio in New York. After his death from a fire in 1968, his exercise method grew in popularity. His method has been modified by contemporary leaders in the fitness industry and is now called, Pilates.
What is Pilates?
The primary goal of Pilates is to develop core strength and enhance functional stability and movement through the entire body, instead of working a series of independent muscle groups and parts. Pilates is similar to yoga in the sense participants stretch and strengthen muscles at the same time. Pilates is different from yoga in that students gain strength from continually moving, rather than holding a pose. Pilates also differs from yoga in that Pilates focuses more on achieving core strength and maintaining a healthy neutral spine alignment, and strengthening the stabilizing muscles of the body that are often under-utilized in other forms of exercise. Pilates is the perfect compliment to a regular cardiovascular routine, such as walking.