What is
Pilates?
Pilates was developed by Joseph H.Pilates, and in 1945 his “Return to Life Through Contrology” book laid out a series of exercises to build strength and mobility through controlled movement and breathing.
Romana Kryzanowska, who trained under Joseph Pilates summarises the key elements of Pilates, “You can say what Pilates is in these words. Stretch with strength and control. And the control part is the most important because that makes you use your mind”.
body and mind
Lots of people have a lifestyle of long periods sitting at work desks or driving, and in Joseph Pilates’ words, in ‘Your Health’ book, “incorrect habits are responsible for most of our ailments – if not all of them”. In the same book he notes “in childhood, habits are easily formed – good and bad. Why not concentrate on the formation of good habits and avoid the necessity later on in life of attempting to correct bad habits”. This vision of working with children to aid their strength and mobility as their body develops, is one that I share with Joseph Pilates himself.
Pilates has personally given me greater physical and mental strength, and as someone who was challenged in the flexibility department – provides my body with increased mobility. The repertoire of exercises Joseph Pilates created himself, mobilises and strengthens every part of the body.
A combination of hours seated at a desk and long car journeys were making my body seize up. Lisa was able to immediately identify a body of two halves and where my challenges were. She has worked on the key areas and after a few sessions I feel 100 times better.
