Pilates is a physical fitness technique introduced early in the last century as a rehab method for veterans returning home from the first World War. Joseph Pilates was a gymnast living in Germany who thought that mental and physical well being are interrelated. Pilates attempted to assist the injured soldiers to regain their health by strengthening, stabilizing and stretching important muscle groups. He endorsed a few particular actions which stressed form and control, and incorporated them into the existing rehabilitation courses. Pilates then decided to establish “The Pilates Principles” to train the overall body; alignment, centering, concentration, control, precision, breathing, and flowing movement.
Alignment identifies the desired position of the pelvis, ribcage, shoulder blades and head as relative to each other. Appropriate alignment will need to be preserved in the course of the Pilates exercise program, and that calls for the practitioner to think about his posture as he is executing the exercises.
A controlled style of breathing is important throughout every step of a Pilates workout, generally to circulate the blood and oxygen in the body. Strong breaths and forced exhalation are suggested to support the required amount of circulation, and each Pilates exercise comes with breathing guidelines.
Centering, when related to Pilates theories, indicates the presumption that a person’s energy is maintained in the “powerhouse” of the human form, what we now describe as our core muscles. Pilates assumed that energy flowed away from the core to the extremities, and consequently that constructing a solid “powerhouse” was essential as a beginning step for generating vital energy in our arms and legs.
Concentration describes the extreme focus essential for Pilates exercises. During these exercises, practitioners are normally instructed to limit movement to a single muscle group. To be able to achieve this, the Pilates student has to pay very careful attention to every section of their bodies for the duration of the routine.
Control is the term for the control required towards our muscle groups and moves. Pilates exercises are very exact moves, and slapdash, uncontrolled motions are not worthwhile in the course of the exercise session. The principle of Precision is strongly related; it is the capability to concentrate on doing one exact and perfect movement as opposed to a sequence of half-hearted ones. Each action in the Pilates method has a specific purpose and it should be done suitably in order to realize that purpose.
A Pilates regimen requires constant movement, where one motion moves seamlessly into the next with the help of appropriate transitions. The ceaseless movement will assist the breathing procedure as well as create staying power in the practitioners.
It is accurate to suggest that Joseph Pilates currently has a group of adherents beyond wounded veterans. As of 2005, we have 11 million adherents and 14,000 Pilates instructors in the United States. It is likely that a fitness center near you is providing a series of Pilates exercises, which could be appealing to you.
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