What is Pilates?

Pilates is an exercise system that was developed by Joseph H. Pilates (1880-1967) in the early 1900's.  This system engages the mind, body and spirit during a series of movements that serve to strengthen the core muscles and develop uniform muscles.  Specialized equipment that use springs for resistance allow for a focus on eccentric muscle contraction (contraction while a muscle is getting longer).  Practitioners of this work:

• Develop long, lean, flexible muscles.
• Improve their posture and daily functioning.
• Have greater health and sense of well being.
• Feel energized!

back to top

How is Pilates different from other forms of exercise?

Pilates improves your posture and functional movement.   In Pilates, we talk of "putting on your posture", which actually means applying the principles of Pilates to your body. This includes: engaging the deep abdominals (transverse abdominis), external and internal obliques) in a lengthened manner, and engaging the pelvic floor, multifidi, erector spinae, serratus anterior, lower trapezius, and latissimus dorsi. The effect of engaging these muslces is similar to that of tightening a corset: elongation and decompression of the spine.

In addition to the ability to engage the core muslces for strength and support, there are several factors needed for optimal function:

1. A neutral pelvis that is both stable and mobile.
2. A neutral spine that is both articulate and mobile.
3. Stable and mobile scapula.

Since posture isn't static, we aim to teach people how to support their body (i.e. good posture) in all different directions. The factors listed above are important to teach and develop in Pilates because they allow for good posture during all movements.

Pilates trains your nervous system how to move in a more functional and coordinated way; we call this "patterning". The patterns are built into the exercises themselves, and become a part of functional movement. Thus, it changes the way you move and work outside of the studio.

back to top

What Can I Expect?

My First Lesson

Your first session will involve reviewing an intake form to discuss your health and fitness history. It is important to be thorough when filling out this questionnaire to ensure that the instructor has knowledge about your body. In certain circumstances, the instructor will ask you for follow-up information to bring to your next session.

It is common for clients to arrive with little experience with Pilates. The instructor will briefly cover the history of Pilates and how Pilates is different from other forms of exercise. Your goals will be discussed and the instructor will relate your goals to realistic expectations from Pilates work.

After covering the basics, you will perform Pilates exercises! You will start consciously finding your core muscles and engage them in prone (laying down) and upright postures. You will start to learn to tie your breath both to the movements and to core engagement.

You will walk out the door feeling taller (it is common to have to re-adjust your rear view mirror!) and energized.

My 10th Lesson

For a non-injured client: The pieces of the puzzle are starting to fit together for you now. You have a sense of how to engage your deep abdominals, lats, hams. The pattern of breathing during the movements is starting to become intuitive. You are much more aware of your body and how you are creating movement. You are starting to apply Pilates to everyday activities. You are working hard during the sessions and leave surprised that even small movements require so much focus and strength. In fact, you realize that for that 55 minutes, you are completely focused on yourself!

My 20th Lesson

For a non-injured client:You are doing Level II and some Level III work now, including beginning mat work. You are performing movements in all plane of motion (flexion, extension, side bending, and rotation). Daily activities and hobbies are now being processed by your mind and body in a totally different way-- gardening, skiing, golfing, running. Some of this processing is conscious, and can be felt as an increase in body awareness, some of the change is subconscious and is a result of "re-patterning" the nervous system.

Other people are recognizing the changes in your body, both in terms of posture and tone. You are recognizing how it is changing your body and your mind!

My 30th Lesson

For a non-injured client:As Jospeh H. Pilates says, "... you will have a whole new body."

back to top