Pilates

Physical fitness is the first requisite to happiness.  This was the belief system of Joseph Pilates, the creator of the Pilates Method of mat work and inventor of the Pilates reformer apparatus.

As a sickly child plagued with rickets, asthma and rheumatic fever, he was driven to overcome these ailments which led him to explore and practice body building, gymnastics, diving, and snow skiing.  Combined with his studies of Eastern and Western philosophies and exercise, Joseph Pilates developed an innovative system now known as Pilates.

What exactly is Pilates?

A development of the core muscles of the abdomen and back while increasing overall flexibility and strength using the following five principles.

1. Concentration: Mental awareness to perform each movement properly.

2. Control: Maintaining control of body through each movement. Control is essential to reduce and prevent injuries.

3. Precision: Proper execution guarantees the exercises value would be realized.

4. Breathing: Blood must be oxygenated in order to fill the cells with energy.

5. Flow: Muscles have a memory so when a correct movement is performed repeatedly the body learns to adopt the new muscular pattern creating flow in everything we do.