Joseph Pilates created Pilates during World War I. Working within hospitals, Joseph Pilates increasingly saw patients not improving and confined to their beds. He knew the benefits of exercise having being plagued by illness himself, so he designed exercises that could be carried out in bed. He then further progressed these exercises using springs to increase resistance. After the war, Mr Pilates continued his work and developed his exercises to work within the dance world. The Pilates that we know and love today may have undergone lots of changes but fundamentally it remains the same.
Pilates looks at improving “core stability” by carrying out various exercises, breathing with the movement and ensuring a correct alignment and body motion. If we don’t have a strong “core” then things can go wrong. Our core stability muscles ensure that we have stability whatever we are doing, for example walking, running, skiing, climbing, bending, playing football, you name it and our “core” will be working.
There is lots evidence to support the fact that Pilates can reduce back, neck and shoulder pain. Pilates has also been linked to helping people with hypermobility syndrome, pelvic floor dysfunctions and neurological conditions. Pilates can also help your sports performance and is also very popular in the dance world and in major sports clubs.
Why not give Pilates a try and find out what it’s all about? Our physiotherapists have trained at The Australian Physiotherapy & Pilates Institute (APPI), and in DMA Clinical Pilates, Stott Pilates and Body Control Pilates. For a full comprehensive Pilates Assessment, contact us today on 0207 884 0374 or email info@physiocomestoyou.com.