The Evolution of Pilates Has Enjoyed a Fascinating Journey

Joseph Pilates claimed that in 10 sessions you will feel the difference; in 20 you will see the difference, but in 30 you will be well on your way to having a whole new body!

Pilates is a type of body conditioning created by Joseph Pilates in which the body is trained in an attentive fashion incorporating a series of exercises with the key focus on enhanced strength, stability and flexibility, incorporating specific exercises which are linked to breathing.

The main attraction is the specific conditioning and training of the core muscles.

The evolution of Pilates has come a long way from the original form of exercise and today it is becoming an increasingly popular form of exercise.

Values instilled by skilled Pilate’s coaches ensure that there is an increase in body awareness, plus it will improve and correct muscular imbalance and develop the core strength, all the while improving posture.

Traditionally, Pilates began in the field of rehabilitation during WW1, teaching wounded English soldiers to increase the range of motion by using springs from hospital beds.

These unsophisticated implements were the very first to be used in Pilates, and many of them are still used in today’s modern Pilates classes, such as the reformer, Cadillac, Wunda chair, spine corrector and ladder barrel.

It was not long thereafter that dancers were using Pilates to strengthen their muscles.

Traditional exercises are used in today’s classes using specialised Pilates equipment, although making your own body do the hard work is still the most commonly used “apparatus” – these exercises are referred to as Mat Pilates.

The evolution of Pilates programming is seen in the use of more modern training principles, equipment and exercise.