Pilates Training
John Dana provides an overview of the types of Pilates exercises and the benefits of Pilates.
Pilates is a specific training and physiotherapeutic program that has achieved great popularity due to its many uses. Some people train to increase muscle tonus, while others use this program to heal after a specific injury. Even those use it as a workout technique in their weight loss plans and diets.
Brief History of Pilates
Joseph Pilates, the founder of this type of exercise, was born in Germany in 1880. As a frail child suffering from asthma, rickets, and rheumatic fever, he was determined to develop some training that could help him gain strength. Hence, Pilates as a training program was born out of yoga, Zen, and ancient Greek and Roman exercises.
During WWI, he worked as a nurse in England, which enabled him to develop today's springs and straps techniques. These have increased mobility in physically injured patients and ensured astonishing recovery. After fleeing to New York City, where he opened his Pilates studio, the training program spread rapidly.
Types of Pilates Exercises
The two fundamental distinctions are made based on the equipment used. On the one hand, training exercises require a soft and spongy surface known as a mat. These comprise beginner, intermediate and advanced moves according to their difficulty level.
The other type of Pilates exercises involves specific equipment. Joseph Pilates invented it, and his successors further improved it. The most widely known apparatuses include the Guillotine, the Cadillac, Barrels, and many other spring-connected machines for better body control.
These two distinctions do not clearly divide the exercises, as some people use both in their training programs. Instructors have been known to adjust the training plans and equipment exercises to help each trainee achieve optimal results.
The Benefits of Doing Pilates
Although most people associate physical activity with weight loss, that is just a bonus for Pilates training programs. Since its primary purpose was to make the body more flexible and physically enduring, there is no doubt that the overall positive effects of such exercise ensue on their own.
- Mind-body synchronization - The first thing you learn in these classes is breathing. Its physical benefits include proper posture of the spine and pelvis, while the mind enjoys significant stress reductions.
- Develop a strong core - Pilates revolves around the central core of the human body, which is the abdominal and back region. These exercises further focus on clearing and centring your mind by improving those muscles and centring your entire skeleton
- Improve performance and prevent injuries - This is why athletes and celebrities practice Pilates. The technique is used equally by athletes, stage performers (singers, dancers, actors), and individuals who want to prevent significant injuries by making their bodies more flexible and increasing their stamina.
The gentle moves of the instructor are sometimes paired with challenging tasks, but once you review the benefits of the practice, there is rarely any dissatisfaction. The inventor of Pilates said it himself: "You will feel better in ten sessions, look better in twenty sessions, and have a completely new body in thirty sessions."
Page Reference
If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is:
- DANA, J. (2017) Pilates Training [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/article243.htm [Accessed
About the Author
John has been a physical fitness instructor for his entire adult life, logging 28 years at three different high schools in the United States. In 2008, he began teaching Pilates in private gyms in his hometown and is widely considered an expert in the craft.