What is Pilates?

Pilates is a form of exercise, developed by Joseph Pilate’s in the 1920’s, which emphasizes the balanced development of the body through core strength, flexibility, and awareness in order to support efficient movement.

Core strength is the foundation of Pilate’s exercise. The core muscles are the deep, internal muscles of the abdomen and back. When the core muscles are strong and doing their job, as they are trained to do in Pilates, they work in tandem with the more superficial muscles of the trunk to support the spine and movement.

As you develop your core strength you develop stability throughout your entire torso. This is one of the ways Pilates helps people overcome back pain and other injuries. As the trunk is properly stabilized, pressure on the back is relieved and the body is able to move freely and efficiently.

One of the best things about the Pilates method is that it works well for a wide range of people. Athletes and dancers love it, as do seniors, women rebounding from pregnancy, and people who are at various stages of physical rehabilitation.