What is Pilates?
Pilates focuses on quality of movement rather than quantity. An exercise method developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 1900’s, Pilates is a whole- body exercise program designed to improve core and extremity strength, flexibility, coordination, balance, breathing, circulation, posture and alignment.
How Does Pilates Work?
Improper alignment, muscle imbalances and incorrect movement patterns mean the muscles are working inefficiently leading to suboptimal performance. This also can contribute to injury or pain. Pilates’ exercises are performed in proper posture and alignment and exercises are chosen to balance the body and reduce asymmetries. Movements are performed with attention to proper muscle activation patterns. Sometimes this means we try to activate a muscle that is not doing its job and sometimes we try to get an overactive muscle to relax in order to improve efficiency and performance.
Pilates’ equipment is highly adaptable and excellent for both high-level athletes and clients with low levels of fitness and pain. The equipment can be set-up to challenge high-level athletes to improve performance or as a low-impact method of cross training. Conversely, the equipment can be set up to assist clients with low levels of fitness, pain or orthopedic concerns (i.e., lower back pain, knee pain, rotator cuff problems, etc.).
Each Pilates program is individually tailored to meet your athletic goals and/or modified for your orthopedic concerns. Pilates’ exercises should never be painful – if an exercise is painful, it will be modified to be pain free or discontinued.