Intentional, Conscious Movement
Pilates
Pilates helps you revitalise your body with conditioning exercises that improve flexibility and make you stronger.
Pilates is a mind-body exercise system developed during the early 20th century drawing on gymnastics, tai chi, hath yoga and dance. The focus is body conditioning, health and intentional control of movements.
A System for Health
Joseph Pilates developed Pilates, originally called Contrology, over a period of five decades, seeded from gymnastics. He drew upon eastern teachings and after WW1, collaborated with Rudolph von Laban and Hanya Holm, in Germany before migrating to New York.
Mat and Equipment
The system is multi-faceted, drawing on mental concentration, relaxation and centring, alignment and breathing techniques. It differs from its influences primarily through the interplay of spring tension in equipment in preparation of mat exercises.
The universal reformer allows people to do things they may not ordinarily do. This helps develop muscle memory and stamina to use in real life.
Mind-Body
The equipment and props employed in Pilates, work the deep architectural structure of the body to create ‘core stability’ and then maintain it through increasingly complex movement sequences. Specific problem-areas can be targeted by an exercise, but always in relation to the rest of one’s body. Your body awareness is heightened by bringing together mind and body, Pilates literally teaches you to be in control of your body, allowing you to handle stress more effectively and achieve relaxation more easily.
Is it like Yoga
There is no doubt Hatha yoga influenced Pilates, in fact, it did so 20 years prior to Krishnamacharya and his students Iyengar and Jois formulated modern yoga practices. Pilates though is not spiritual and remains very closely connected to early gymnastic practices. The emphasis of Pilates is on intentional movements and the machinery makes Pilates very unique in how we help clients create that. Many people find the two disciplines are very complementary.
Who does Pilates
The emphasis on precision, breathing and conditioning means Pilates has taken on a wide variety of roles. It can be seen complementing sports training, exercise programs for the elderly, post-rehab and is taught in most western ballet schools. Christano Ronaldo, Sylvester Stallone, Tiger Woods are advocates. Everyday people tend to be over 30 discovering the benefits of Pilates to postural complaints and undiagnosed chronic pain issues like back pain. At mBody our clients range from mid 20's to late 70's.
How are teachers trained?
Pilates teachers are either apprenticed while working at the studio; or trained through a formal structure (as part of a university arts qualification or a specialist school). All programs can take between one and three years. At mBody we have all three qualification types and only employs teachers from schools with recognised programs.
The length of training is because teachers are taught to exercise 'the body in front of them' choosing from over 300 different exercises across from the 5 most common pieces of equipment. The customisation of the program to a person, provides the effectiveness.
It is important before you start that you check the level of training of the teacher. There are a lot of classes masquerading as Pilates, that are simply a fitness class using Pilates equipment.
How can I start?
We have a published group class timetable that you can book straight away. Alternatively, email us at enquire@mbody.co.