The Method Pilates Review

AJReviews | Sep 27, 2009 |

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The method Pilates, is a program that will give you a leaner, healthier, and stronger body that is more flexible than you ever imagined, and for the first time, pain free. Just a decade ago, there were very few people who could even pronounce the name Pilates, much less tell you what it was. Now, it is a studio sensation across the country, as well as the Pilates equipment steadily making its way into the homes.

The method Pilates is for people who want a lean, toned body, as well as those who are overcoming injuries. Some of the most well known benefits of Pilates are:

Abdominal strength
Flexibility and elasticity of the muscles
Physical strength
Stamina
Excellent posture
Body awareness and confidence
Energy
Mental clarity and focus

Joseph Pilates was the beginning of the method Pilates. He grew up in Germany between WWI and WWII. He was a very skinny, sickly child, and was very self-conscious about it. He became very intrigued with the balance of body and mind taught by the Greeks. He taught himself anatomy and physiology, and became an acrobat.

He later created a piece of equipment called the "bednasium", in which he converted an iron hospital bed into a somewhat, 4-poster bed, with a spring, and foot loop attached to the frame. This enabled bed-ridden patients to sleep and exercise during the war.

Once the war was over, Joseph Pilates emigrated from Gernany and set up his first studio, teaching what he called "Body Contrology". Dancers were the first to discover this work, because of their injuries, and made it famous.

Pilates wrote a book, 'Return to Life through Contrology', in which he asserts how Contrology completely coordinates the body, mind, and spirit. He stated that the method Pilates develops a uniform body, correcting wrong postures, invigorates the mind, restores physical vitality, and elevates the spirit.

The method Pilates, basic program consist of mat work, which is a series of exercises done on a padded mat. The next one is the Reformer, which is a moving carriage on a bed-like frame with straps and springs. There are up to 100 exercises that can be performed on the Reformer without stopping.