What is Pilates?

I’m often asked the most basic of questions – “How can Pilates help me?”

Developed in the early 20th century in Germany by Joseph Pilates, Pilates was originally created to help rehabilitate injured veterans. Today, more than 11 million individuals worldwide use Pilates.

By conditioning core postural muscles, Pilates is able to produce a balanced body that provides healthy support for the spine – essential to living healthy. In Pilates, we use apparatus (equipment) to help achieve these results. Unlike traditional strength training machines, Pilates apparatus utilize springs (no pulleys or weights) to create resistance that produces effective and long-lasting results. In essence, Pilates is about improving your body’s stature and physique, not just generating cheap short-term gain.

Clients walk away from Pilates sessions feeling flexible and relaxed. With the improvement in posture and overall flexibility that Pilates offers, many clients often remark that they feel and appear to be taller – often a result of decompressing the spine.

Key benefits of Pilates include:

• Prevention and control of osteoporosis – As a weight bearing physical activity, Pilates can help generate increased bone density
• Increased flexibility and range-of-motion
• Reduced back pain
• Increased lung strength and capacity (Joseph Pilates was asthmatic!)
• Faster recovery from soft tissue injuries
• Improved muscle tone – not bulky muscles, but a long, lean body

As a certified Pilates instructor, I am happy to work with you to help you reach your fitness goals. Please contact me to learn more about how Pilates can work for you.