What is Pilates..?

You may have heard the word Pilates floating around the health and fitness world in recent years, but what is Pilates and why is it all the rage right now? 

What is Pilates?
Pilates is a form of exercise focused on the entire body and was developed by a man named Joseph Pilates. It was originally used to assist in rehabilitating injured soldiers from WW1 and then was used as strength and conditioning exercise for dancers. These days it is much more widely used by many individuals for many different purposes. 

Traditionally Pilates focuses on low-impact movements that target flexibility, muscular strength and endurance. Each exercise should be performed with precision, balance, correct postural alignment, core activation, and controlled flowing movements that incorporate breathing to centre the mind. 

Pilates movements can be completed in standing on laying positions and can also incorporate equipment such as the Reformer, Pilates Magic Circle, Chi Ball, Cadillac, Ladder Barrel and many others. It is very common these days for Pilates classes to be combined with other forms of exercise such as HIIT, Boxing or Yoga. 

What are the benefits? 
So, what’s all the obsession with Pilates over other forms of exercise? There are many benefits to Pilates when compared to other exercise methods, including;

• Deep muscle activation = learning to voluntarily engage deep muscles such as the core, which is often used in Pilates promotes an increased function of the nervous system. This results in better communication between our brain and body.
• Calms the mind and emotions = mindfulness and meditation are excellent for our body and mind to relax and unwind. Participating in Pilates allows us to concentrate on only our body, enabling our brain to be cleared of any distractions all whilst still having a great workout!
• Relieves stress and tension in the body = the unique design of Pilates incorporates stretching and gradual conditioning to help relieve built up tension within the muscles. 
• It’s low impact = making it the perfect option for those suffering from chronic pain or injuries, pre or post-natal mums or even those who are a bit anxious about entering the usually amped up atmosphere of a generic gym. 
• Improves our mind-body connection = the precision and attention to our bodies required in Pilates, provides us with a better understanding of how our body moves and functions which increases our body awareness. 

What are the 5 key Pilate’s principals?

1. Breathing = Pilates focuses on deep breathing and the use of breath to help us focus on the movement. 
2. Concentration = becoming more mindful during movements allows greater muscle activation and an improved mind-body connection. 
3. Control = being in control of the pace of movements allows correct technique and proper muscle control to be achieved, ultimately providing better results. 
4. Precision = Being able to complete fewer reps with accuracy is more beneficial than completing more reps with poor form. 
5. Flow = Pilate’s movements should be smooth, continuous and elegant when transitioning between exercises to increase strength and stamina. 

Now that you know what all the fuss is about, why not give a Pilates class a go!

By 
Aleisha Michael
Accredited Exercise Physiologist​

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