Lower Back Pain/ Cancer/ Older Person and GP Referral Specialist Joseph Pilates was born in 1880 in Germany. As a child he suffered from Rickets and had many other health issues. He was determined to overcome his fragility and experimented with different approaches such as Yoga, Dance, Skiing, Self Defence and Weight Training. He selected the most effective elements of each type of activity. He was able to work out a system that had the perfect balance of strength and flexibility. He then passed this onto others during World War I. In 1926 he moved to the USA, where he met his wife, Clara. They subsequently set up a studio together. He wrote several books on Fitness and passed his knowledge onto clientele of a high fitness standard, such as ballet dancers and gymnasts. Joseph Pilates never set up an official training programme and those he taught, went on to teach their own versions of his method according to the client. There are many different schools of Pilates, which interpret and apply the work in their own way. philosophy states that control of the mind is necessary for control of the body. Each exercise should be performed with careful precision and control. Its all about quality of movement not quantity of exercises. The original exercises are based around the following fundamental principles:
Breathing, Concentration, Control, Core Centring, Flow and Precision. The 34 exercises presented by Pilates targeted every muscle group. The physical and technical demands of each exercise are too complex for the average participant (they were originally created for elite dancers/ gymnasts). Pilates is an exercise that provides physical, mental and spiritual benefits. When Pilates is performed correctly, the benefits include:
Reduced stress levels
Improved coordination
Decreased risk of injury
Flatter stomach
Increased core strength
Increase in joint mobility
Increased flexibility
Reduce lower back pain
Improve posture
Improve balance
Stronger Immune system
Increased Muscular strength, endurance and tone.
