PILATES BENEFITS
What’s all the fuss about?
After decades as the workout of the elite, Pilates has entered the fitness mainstream relatively recently and has been going from strength to strength ever since. What’s the fascinating story behind how Pilates started ? What are the benefits and what does Pilates address?
Joseph Pilates The concept of Pilates developed by Joseph Pilates at the turn of the century, was innovative for the times. Born a sickly child, he spent his life developing simple exercises that would challenge both the body and the brain. Whilst Pilates was a genius and years ahead of his time, many of his exercises may be classed as controversial in the light of today's sports science. Joseph himself described many of the exercises as advanced, and it is worth remembering that he moved on from an early focus on injured soldiers, to a clientele largely composed of professional dancers, athletes and gymnasts.
Modern Pilates Cherry Baker and leading physiotherapist Chris Norris developed the initial Modern Pilates programme. The programme was created to take advantage of the major developments in sports science since Joseph Pilates time.
Benefits of Modern Pilates
Improved muscle strength & endurance
Greater mobility and flexibility, along with better posture & movement quality
Improvements in lung function and general circulation
A stronger pelvic floor
A reduction in common injuries and less incidence of back pain
An aid to relaxation and active stress reduction in a fast moving world
It is recommended that participants also engage in regular cardiovascular training to help create a healthy and balanced fitness programme.
Modern Pilates addresses
The mind and body in its exercise programme
A wide range of clients and fitness levels
Postural imbalance caused by modern lifestyle.
It reawakens a normal and healthy posture by lengthening and/or strengthening key muscles, hence rebalancing them so that they operate effectively with minimum effort on the joints and Skelton.
Precision and does not rely on repetition or momentum
Trunk strength and stability
Weak core abdominal muscles
Shoulder girdle stability
Pelvic alignment
Maintenance of the natural form and flow of the spine
Precision movements and appropriate muscle fibre recruitment order
Modern Pilates aspires to encourage clients to transfer Modern Pilates movements into everyday lifestyles.
Modern Pilates Research Papers
PILATES AND PREGNANCY Returning to exercise soon after the birth is important for the mother's physical and mental wellbeing--she looks after her baby's body for nine months, who cares for hers?
PILATES FOR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS The effect of core stability training on balance and mobility in ambulant individuals with multiple sclerosis: A multi-centre series of single case studies
PILATES FOR CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN Several published studies have examined the effects of Pilates method in people with chronic low back pain (LBP)
PILATES FOR PARKINSON’S DISEASE To evaluate the effects of a Pilates exercise program on postural stability and balance confidence in people with IPD