A new craze has swept through the world of physical fitness. Pilates is all the rage, but there is really nothing “new’ about this form of exercise.

The Pilates Method has experienced a popularity explosion in recent years, sweeping across North America, Asia, and Europe. This type of exercise was actually developed in the early 20th century by a German national named Joseph Pilates, and the methods are really very simple.

Joseph Pilates developed this exercise form, naming it “The Art of Contrology”. It is a basic program that uses the mind to control the muscles. That simple idea eventually evolved into a far more complex exercise program, with focus on the core postural muscles. Fans of Pilates exercise believe that these core muscles support the spine and help balance the body.

When Joseph Pilates developed the initial Pilates Method, World War I was raging and he was one of many German nationals placed under forced internment in Lancaster, England. A trained nurse, Pilates had been investigating ways to help rehabilitate bed-ridden victims of the 1918 influenza epidemic.

Amassing all that he had learned in those twenty years of self-study, Joseph Pilates applied his vast knowledge of yoga, Zen and ancient Greek and Roman physical regimens and created a series of movements that could be practiced within the confines of this controlled environment. He taught these movements and concepts to his fellow camp members and devised the original system of exercises, now known as “mat work”. This initial exercise regimen of “contrology” was successfully performed by many of Pilates’ fellow WWI detainees in the cramped quarters they shared.

Of course, there is much more to the Pilates Method than just a combination of physical movements. The program was built on the belief that physical health needs mental health, and vice-versa. That’s why to so many people, the Pilates Method is actually a system of total body conditioning. These are movements and physical practices that strengthen the body while emphasizing proper alignment, concentration, precision, centering, control, breathing and flowing movements. Today, many years later, those same principles provide the basis of the modern Pilates Method.

Of course, physical exercise was an important element of Mr. Pilates’ concept, but this aspect differed from traditional regimes. Rather than performing each exercise with a series of repetitions, Joseph Pilates developed a program of precise movements requiring form and control. Pilates designed over 500 of these very specific exercises to be included in his Pilates Method. The movements used most frequently are the Pilates ‘mat work’ exercises. These involve a series of callisthenic motions performed on a padded mat, without using apparatus or added weights.

Following the development of the initial mat work, Joseph Pilates designed five major pieces of unique exercise equipment. He claimed that these machines would provide optimal results. Modern Pilates classes distinguish the mat and machine exercises separately, but the original Pilates Method combined both equipment exercises and mat work.

Of the exercises involved in the original Pilates Method, most were developed to create an awareness of the neutral alignment of the spine. These were exercises that could strengthen the deep postural muscles that support the spine’s natural alignment, and played a vital role in preventing or alleviating back pain.

Gravity Pilates is a relatively new development in the modern Pilates Method. People who practice gravity Pilates believe that the abdomen, lower back and buttocks make up the body’s “powerhouse”. When these areas are strengthened and supported, the rest of the body can move about more freely.

Many men and women trust the Pilates method for rehabilitation and physical fitness. It is still a popular exercise program for celebrities and fitness buffs, and it’s just as popular with physical therapists as rehabilitation exercises. When practicing Pilates, the weight of your own body is used to train your muscles and increase your strength and flexibility.

While there is nothing “new” about the Pilates Method, the program continues to gain popularity as more and more people discover its many benefits.

Popularity: 17% [?]

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