All About Pilates
Kristine Napier, MPH, RD, LD
Kristy Simmelink, B.S. Puh-LAH-teez. That's how you pronounce the new craze in exercise and stretching. Just what is this form of exercise all about? Pilates might well be called the hottest workout option. This German-based exercise program was designed to tone and firm the body through resistance-based stretching exercises. They can be done on a mat or a piece of special equipment, and are coupled with deep breathing techniques. We are quick to acknowledge that Pilates experts and enthusiasts say is it is not just exercise. Rather, they say, it is a series of controlled movements engaging your body and mind, performed on specifically designed exercise apparatus and supervised by extensively trained teachers (we advise you to be fussy when you look for a Pilates studio, to ensure you get the proper supervision). As anyone who has tried this exercise can confirm, Pilates isn't just an exercise: it was designed to improve and change the body's postural and alignment "habits." Developed some 80 years ago by Joseph Pilates from Germany, the workout is meant to elongate muscles, rather than leaving them bulky and short -- when performed properly. Not surprisingly, some of the first people to use the Pilates Method were dancers such as Martha Graham and George Balanchine. Pilates is used by many dance companies, as well as sports teams, spas and now fitness enthusiasts throughout the world. People love it not only for the conditioning it purportedly provides, but also because it apparently has minimal stress on joints. A Fascinating Genesis Born in Germany in 1880, Joseph H. Pilates was apparently a frail child. As he grew, he dedicated his life to becoming stronger. Looking for methods to condition and strengthen his body, he eventually became an accomplished skier, diver, gymnast and boxer. During World War I, Pilates became a nurse; soon he designed an exercise apparatus for immobilized patients by attaching springs to hospital beds. Thus was born the foundation for his style of body conditioning and specialized exercise apparatus, which he brought to New York City when he opened the first Pilates Studio? in 1926. Two Types Of Workouts Classes in a Pilates studio center involve work on specially designed equipment. One of the important features of the equipment is tensioned springs, which serve to isolate and develop specific muscle groups. Classes conducted outside of a Pilates studio, such as in health clubs and gyms, include a repertoire of exercises performed on exercise mats. Mari Winsor, a professional dancer and instructor in Los Angeles, operates two Pilates studios in the L.A. area; she recent published a book, "The Pilates Powerhouse." According to Winsor, all Pilates movements must be generated from your "powerhouse," the muscles in the abdomen, lower back and buttocks. Once you strengthen the powerhouse, say advocates, the rest of the body can move freely. The mind is an essential part of the workout: When you do Pilates, you are required to engage with your mind and body to perform the movements correctly. Experts say this mind-body union results in a new awareness of muscle function and control. For most people, mat work offers a sufficient workout because your body provides all the resistance you need, says Winsor. But for those who crave further exhaustion, she says, the Pilates machines are designed to magnify resistance via springs and pulleys. Choosing An Instructor Or Studio To provide safe and effective conditioning, instruction should only be given by teachers who complete a rigorous certification program including seminar training and 600 apprenticeship hours. The certification program has been continued by Romana Kryzanowska, Master Teacher, who was personally trained by Joseph Pilates. After Joseph's death, his wife, Clara, asked Romana to carry on Joseph's work.
Kristy Simmelink, B.S. Puh-LAH-teez. That's how you pronounce the new craze in exercise and stretching. Just what is this form of exercise all about? Pilates might well be called the hottest workout option. This German-based exercise program was designed to tone and firm the body through resistance-based stretching exercises. They can be done on a mat or a piece of special equipment, and are coupled with deep breathing techniques. We are quick to acknowledge that Pilates experts and enthusiasts say is it is not just exercise. Rather, they say, it is a series of controlled movements engaging your body and mind, performed on specifically designed exercise apparatus and supervised by extensively trained teachers (we advise you to be fussy when you look for a Pilates studio, to ensure you get the proper supervision). As anyone who has tried this exercise can confirm, Pilates isn't just an exercise: it was designed to improve and change the body's postural and alignment "habits." Developed some 80 years ago by Joseph Pilates from Germany, the workout is meant to elongate muscles, rather than leaving them bulky and short -- when performed properly. Not surprisingly, some of the first people to use the Pilates Method were dancers such as Martha Graham and George Balanchine. Pilates is used by many dance companies, as well as sports teams, spas and now fitness enthusiasts throughout the world. People love it not only for the conditioning it purportedly provides, but also because it apparently has minimal stress on joints. A Fascinating Genesis Born in Germany in 1880, Joseph H. Pilates was apparently a frail child. As he grew, he dedicated his life to becoming stronger. Looking for methods to condition and strengthen his body, he eventually became an accomplished skier, diver, gymnast and boxer. During World War I, Pilates became a nurse; soon he designed an exercise apparatus for immobilized patients by attaching springs to hospital beds. Thus was born the foundation for his style of body conditioning and specialized exercise apparatus, which he brought to New York City when he opened the first Pilates Studio? in 1926. Two Types Of Workouts Classes in a Pilates studio center involve work on specially designed equipment. One of the important features of the equipment is tensioned springs, which serve to isolate and develop specific muscle groups. Classes conducted outside of a Pilates studio, such as in health clubs and gyms, include a repertoire of exercises performed on exercise mats. Mari Winsor, a professional dancer and instructor in Los Angeles, operates two Pilates studios in the L.A. area; she recent published a book, "The Pilates Powerhouse." According to Winsor, all Pilates movements must be generated from your "powerhouse," the muscles in the abdomen, lower back and buttocks. Once you strengthen the powerhouse, say advocates, the rest of the body can move freely. The mind is an essential part of the workout: When you do Pilates, you are required to engage with your mind and body to perform the movements correctly. Experts say this mind-body union results in a new awareness of muscle function and control. For most people, mat work offers a sufficient workout because your body provides all the resistance you need, says Winsor. But for those who crave further exhaustion, she says, the Pilates machines are designed to magnify resistance via springs and pulleys. Choosing An Instructor Or Studio To provide safe and effective conditioning, instruction should only be given by teachers who complete a rigorous certification program including seminar training and 600 apprenticeship hours. The certification program has been continued by Romana Kryzanowska, Master Teacher, who was personally trained by Joseph Pilates. After Joseph's death, his wife, Clara, asked Romana to carry on Joseph's work.
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