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Perfectly Pilates [Part I] - The History, And What to Expect

Posted January 28, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Caroline Shannon

Section: Her Fitness, Athletics, Training Programs, Her Health, Her Motivation

What was once an exercise practiced primarily by young women who wore point shoes, and men who knew the meanings behind words like “tendu” and “arabesque,” Pilates has gone from the exercise of choice for professional dancers to one that is practiced by women across the globe.

But while most women have now heard and read about Pilates, or maybe even taken a class or two, many may not know the history behind the exercise or understand what it is meant to do for their bodies.

According to the Pilates National Method Alliance, the concept of Pilates as a suitable exercise form took off when Joseph Pilates, the founder of the regimen, was working as a caretaker at a camp for men affected by disease and injury during World War II. At the time, Pilates had been working on his concept, which he referred to as “Contrology,” for more than 20 years. But this is when he began to implement his technique and devise equipment to rehabilitate his patients. Pilates would take springs from a bed and attach them to something in order to create resistance, a method that is still used on Pilates equipment today.

The focus of every Pilates workout is the core, or what many gurus of the exercise form refer to as the “powerhouse.” Through the proper use of one’s powerhouse – a topic that will be further discussed in Part II of this series – a woman can expect the following from a Pilates workout:

•Long, lean muscles that are achieved through the fluid movements that help to improve strength and flexibility.

•A complete mind-body exercise session. Proper breathing, focus on flowing movement, control and correct spinal alignment are just a few of the aspects that will help a woman’s Pilates workout become a discipline that not only enhances her body, but also her mentality.

•A strong back, core and the prevention of further injury from other activity. In recent years, many athletes have begun to lean on Pilates in an effort to strengthen their powerhouse and condition their bodies to better perform their sports.

•A more centered and balanced approach to life in general. Pilates helps to engage the mind and body, a pair that, when conditioned properly, will help to improve one’s overall quality of life.

“Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness,” Pilates says in his book, Return to Life Through Contrology and Your Health. “Our interpretation of physical fitness is the attainment and maintenance of a uniformly developed body with a sound mind fully capable of naturally, easily, and satisfactorily performing our many and varied daily tasks with spontaneous zest and pleasure.”

In addition to writing for several publications, including the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Divorce360.com, long-time journalism Caroline Shannon is a lover of all things related to health and nutrition. She has been a runner for more than ten years and is a certified Pilates instructor. Check out more from Caroline on her her blog, Eat, Pray, Run.

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Tags: beginner, contrology, core workouts, flexibility, joseph pilates, mind-body, muscle lengthening, pilates, powerhouse, women's workouts

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