Pilates

Fitness and harmony with Pilates. The principle of Pilates. Similar to yoga, the human being is perceived holistically and treated as body, mind and soul.

The aim is to restore the innate vitality of our body, to stimulate our mind and thus to harmonize with our whole organism.

The following principles apply to all Pilates exercises:

Conscious breathing

The following principles apply to all Pilates exercises Conscious breathing Breathe from the chest and deep into the belly. Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. This enhances concentration, releases physical tension and strengthens the abdominal muscles.

Gathering

Every movement and every breath must be coordinated in a controlled manner.

Control

The correct execution of each movement must be checked.

The flow of movement

In Pilates, our body is almost constantly in motion. Each exercise must be performed fluidly and as slowly as possible, so that the muscles deeper in the body are used.

Centering

Centering means that I strengthen and tone the center of my body, my core. Joseph Pilates called this center "the energy factory". It starts in the chest, includes all the abdominal and dorsal muscles, and includes the pelvis and all the major internal organs. In all Pilates exercises we "pull" the abdomen inwards and thus work the entire abdominal musculature.

The standing posture

The sitting position guarantees the uniform loading of all muscle groups, joints, tendons and ligaments.

Relaxation

After a Pilates workout, it is important to relax the whole body and give it the rest it needs.

Pilates in practice

The aim of Pilates is to activate, strengthen and stretch all muscle groups, but especially the muscles of our "strength", i.e. the abdominal and back muscles, as well as the muscles of the hips and buttocks. In addition to the mat, it is not necessary to use equipment other than large and small balls, belts, Pilates hoops and swing sticks, all of which are useful for training on the mat.

For whom Pilates is suitable

Although Pilates exercises are demanding, they are gentle on the body, meaning that no sudden movements are performed that could harm the body. Pilates is suitable for all women and men, even if they have never exercised before. It benefits tired and stressed people and all those who suffer from physical tension.  Pilates is generally good for all people who want to do something for their fitness. There is no age limit.

The benefits of Pilates

Pilates is good for both body and soul. It strengthens the muscles deeper in the body and gets the hips, back and shoulders in the right position. In this way, we achieve a good upright position of the body. We become more elastic overall and our silhouette looks much more beautiful. In Pilates we learn to breathe deeply, stress disappears, our well-being increases and we feel balanced overall.

Source

German Joseph Pilates, born in 1880, was often sick and weak as a child. He began exercising, which not only made him healthy and strong, but also gave him the idea to develop an exercise system that brought him professional success. When he was asked to train German soldiers, he declined and emigrated to the United States, where he continued to develop his system and taught it from 1926 in New York with his wife, also a German and a nurse. There he opened his first studio, which quickly became a success. Joseph Pilates died in 1967, but his work was recognized throughout the world. His method has been taught with great success since 2000.

"After ten hours you feel the difference. After twenty hours you see the difference. And after thirty hours you have a new body." - Joseph Pilates