Pilates is a unique method that “counteracts the harmful inherent conditions associated with modern civilization.”
Look around, and you will see the physical, bodily results created by modern life: forward heads, rounded shoulders, underdeveloped muscles, poor posture, and all the pain and ailments that come along with it.
Modern life in America is often centered around sitting—in cars, at desks, at tables, in front of TVs, hunched over phones, or often even with hobbies. The spine gets little extension (think back bends), if at all. This near-constant forward flexion causes the muscles in front of the body to shorten and the muscles in the back of the body to weaken.
Pilates is a system that works the whole body consistently in a balanced way. Unlike gym workouts, where you might have leg day alternating with upper body day, each Pilates session focuses on the entire body and moves through all five spine shapes. Each joint moving through its full range of motion ensures smaller muscles aren’t overlooked. For example, when working out at a gym, the equipment keeps the body fixed so that one joint is active and moving in one plane of motion. While this isn’t bad and useful in certain instances, it is incomplete. The likelihood of missing essential muscles is high unless you are well-versed in anatomy or weight training. Often, only the major muscles get strengthened, and over time, imbalances occur, causing pain or stiffness.
Breath, whole-body health, and whole-body commitment are the three fundamentals of Pilates. It’s a method you can do for your whole life. The goal is to have a healthy body connected to a healthy mind and a healthy spirit.
“Physical fitness can neither be acquired by wishful thinking nor outright purchase.” -Joseph Pilates
All quotes by Joseph Pilates.
From the book A Pilates' Primer: The Millennium Edition, Return to Life Through Contrology and Your Health, By Joseph H. Pilates and William J. Milller
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