Naturalpath

There is no denying the benefits of exercise. And with the growing trend in wellness comes a popularity in "mind-body" exercise including yoga, tai chi, and pilates amongst a few. Pilates is one of the fastest growing forms of exercise in the world. In the U.S., Pilates participants have grown in number from 1.7 million in 2000 to 10.5 million in 2004 – more than 500% growth in just four years! Pilates is a form of exercise combining the best of Western and Eastern traditions, blending the mind and body and viewing them as a unity working in complete harmony with one another. The Eastern approach to exercise is a path to calmness, being centered and whole, with an emphasis on stretching and limberness. The Western approach emphasizes motion, muscle tone and strength.

Joseph Pilates believed that in order to achieve happiness it is imperative to gain mastery of your body. Pilates' development of his method evolved into a vision of an ideal lifestyle, attained only through balance of the physical, mental, and spiritual. The Pilates method was born out of Joseph Pilates personal experiences with yoga, martial arts, weight lifting, and chinese acrobatics. Through visualization, physical strengthening and stretching of the body, he belived mental vigor and improved blood flow returns to inactive brain cells. This renewed spirit of thought and movement is the first step toward stress reduction, grace of movement, alacrity, and a greater enjoyment of life.

THE BOTTOM LINE:
When done regularly (2-3 times a week), pilates will greatly improve abdominal strength, posture, body awareness, muscle tone, low back problems, balance and flexibility. Pilates will not necessarily make you grow taller. However, it will allow you to utilize your full height, with proper posture. Due to the nature of the exercises and breathing methods, many people experience more energy and overall sense of well being after completing a session. We are far too used to straining ourselves in the effort to strengthen our muscles when we should be enjoying the movements themselves.

Pilates can be performed with specialized equipment or matwork. The benefit of the equipment is that it helps to support the body in order to allow the bigger muscles to let go so the smaller muscles can "find their voice." It facilitates a more balanced approach to working out. The matwork is a good option as well that still focuses on core movements without the use of support from equipment. Make sure your teacher is fully certified (see below).

In a time when so many things are out of our control, the power of how we use our bodies is a metaphor for our lives is. The beauty of Pilates is that once you understand the core of its philosophy, its movements can be translated into any format. Each exercise can be used a s away to stretch and move correctly in the course of one's day but is not a limited exercises regime whether you are athlete or are inflexible,. Pilates can change the way you relate to your own body and the way you carry it in the world. The power each of us holds to take control over our own well-being is startling. It begins by becoming aware of our bodies as an integrated part of our creative minds. We all have that active imagination that continues to live inside of us and sometimes we just need reminding.

OPTIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS:

To find a pilates studio near you, check out the Pilates Method Alliance or try a search for pilates in your area. Make sure the studio employs fully certified teachers which should include at a minimum of 600 hours for equipment and 200 hours for matwork.

SOURCES:

 

Brignell, R. (2001) Pilates: a beginner's guide. New York : Sterling.
Craig, C. (2001). Pilates on the ball : the world's most popular workout using the exercise ball. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
Crawford, E. (2000). Balance on the ball : exercises inspired by the teachings of Joseph Pilates. San Francisco, CA: Equilibrio.
Friedman, P., and Eisen, G. (1981). The pilates method of physical and mental conditioning. New York : Warner Books.

 

RELATED LINKS:

Pilates Method Alliance

Peak Pilates

Balanced Body

RECOMMENDED MEDIA (Video, Audio, Books, etc.):

Classical Pilates Matwork DVD
Pilates Complete for Everyone
Strength Training on the Ball: A Pilates Approach to Optimal Strength and Balance - Collen Craig
The Everything Pilates Book: The Ultimate Guide to Making Your Body Stronger, Leaner, and Healthier - Amy Alpers and Rachel Segal