What is Pilates method?
To know the life of Joseph Pilates is to understand the logic of his method, always respectful of the biomechanics of our body.
All Pilates exercises obey 7 fundamental principles:
Control: When the work is done from the center and with absolute concentration, we get the necessary control to prevent bad habits or gravity lead us to the development of erroneous movement patterns. To perform the exercises, we need control of the body in motion, of the mind over the body and of the breathing pattern. Only in this way will we achieve the necessary quality in the movements, which must be precise.
Concentration: In Pilates, the mind guides the body, so an absolute concentration is necessary to get the most benefit from each exercise. When performing the exercises, it is essential to be aware of all parts of the body, as they are interconnected and influence each other. Therefore, learning to concentrate is essential to control the body and mind. This will make it possible to execute precise and perfect exercises.
Alignment: a good alignment reduces the tensions suffered by the spine and the rest of the joints of the body. Correct body alignment is a neuromuscular reeducation process that demands a lot of involvement from the student and the teacher.
Breathing: Pilates thought it was essential to breathe properly to be able to inspire correctly. Each phase of the exercise is accompanied by a respiratory phase (inspiration or expiration). The correct breathing facilitates the execution of the exercise.
Center: The energy center or Power House is the “belt” that wraps around the center of gravity of the body and extends from the base of the ribs to the bottom of the pelvis. It constitutes the fundamental pillar of the method. All work begins at the center and continues from it to the rest of the body. With its strengthening, we managed to stabilize the torso and lengthen the body.
Accuracy: in quality control, quality always prevails over quantity. If we do many repetitions of the same exercise without control, we will not get the right benefit. Many repetitions led us to fatigue and fatigue to lack of precision and a possible injury.
Fluency: Exercises have to have a fast or very slow pace of execution. The movement must be continuous, without rigidity’s Pilates fundamental principles.
The inventor of the Pilates method: Joseph H. Pilates
Joseph H. Pilates was born in Germany in 1880 and died in the United States in 1967. Despite having fragile health during his childhood, he always felt passion for gymnastics, bodybuilding and yoga. With the passage of time he became a true athlete.
He studied western and eastern physical training techniques (based mainly on breathing). His desire to improve the techniques learned leads him to develop his own that today bears his name.
During World War II he worked in England as a male nurse in a hospital. So that his bedridden patients could exercise, he invented a special system of springs and pulleys fixed to the head and foot of the hospital bed. This idea was the basis and beginning of his method of training.
Throughout his life, he created more than 500 exercises and a unique and original equipment system. Joseph H. Pilates continued to improve his method for 60 years. He wanted to create a physical harmony thanks to the respiratory and mental work through the observation and awareness of the movement.
His weakness became his strength. His fragility during childhood motivated him to overcome himself and with tenacity, he became a strong man and a teacher listening to his students in each course taught.