What is Pilates?

Pilates is a system of exercise developed by a man named Joseph Hubertus Pilates.  Joseph Pilates was born in 1880 near Düsseldorf, Germany. An interest in heath and wellness ran in his family as his father, a native of Greece, had been a prize-winning gymnast, and his German-born mother was a naturopath. But Joseph was not a healthy child.  Small and sickly, he suffered from asthma, rickets, and rheumatic fever.  He was teased by the other children which only made him more determined to overcome his disadvantages.  He studied anatomy, bodybuilding, yoga and wrestling.  By the time he was a teenager he was an accomplished boxer, skier and diver.  He had managed to transform his once sickly body into quite a specimen; so much so that he even modeled for anatomy charts as a teenager!

Pilates used his new stature in his public career as a circus entertainer.   He used to perform a “living Greek statue” act. So enamored was he of the classical Greek ideal of a man who is balanced equally in body, mind, and spirit, that he came to believe that our modern lifestyle, bad posture, and inefficient breathing were the roots of poor health.

His answer to these problems was to design a unique series of vigorous physical exercises that help to correct muscular imbalances and improve posture, coordination, balance, and strength.  He also invented a variety of machines, based on spring-resistance, that could be used to perform these exercises.

There is a famous story about Pilates’ inspiration for his unique apparatus. Before World War I he was touring England as a circus performer and professional boxer, and even teaching self-defense to the Scotland Yard police force. But when war broke out, he was interned in England as an enemy alien on the Isle of Man.

The health conditions in the internment camps were not great, but Pilates insisted that everyone in his cell block participate in daily exercise routines to help maintain both their physical and mental well-being. However, some of the injured German soldiers were too weak to get out of bed. Not content to leave his comrades lying idle, Pilates took springs from the beds and attached them to the headboards and footboards of the iron bed frames, turning them into equipment that provided a type of resistance exercise for his bedridden “patients.”

These mechanized beds were the forerunners of the spring-based exercise machines, such as the Cadillac and the Universal Reformer, for which the Pilates method is known today. Pilates legend has it that during the great flu epidemic of 1918, not a single one of the soldiers under his care died. He credited his technique (which he called “Contrology”) for the prisoners’ strength and fitness — remarkable under the less than optimum living conditions of internment camps, which were hit especially hard by this deadly flu.   Pilates defined is Method of Contrology as “the comprehensive integration of body mind and spirit.”

Pilates returned to Germany after the war, and his achievements with the German soldiers in the prison camp did not go unnoticed. In 1926, the Kaiser invited him to begin training the German secret police.

At this point Pilates decided to emigrate to the United States. He met his future wife and dedicated teaching partner, Clara, on the boat to New York City. Together they opened the first Body Contrology Studio on Eighth Avenue at 56th Street in Manhattan, in the same building as a number of dance studios.

For the rest of his life, he continued to develop his exercise system and to create new pieces of equipment for it. Joseph Pilates passed away in 1967 at age 87. He had maintained a fit physique throughout his life, and many photos show that he was in remarkable physical condition in his older years. He is also said to have had a flamboyant personality. He smoked cigars, liked to party, and wore his exercise briefs wherever he wanted (even on the streets of New York). It is said that he was an intimidating, though deeply committed, instructor. Clara Pilates continued to teach and run the studio for another 10 years after Joseph Pilates death.

What will Pilates do for me?

· Increase body awareness and posture

· Increase muscle strength and endurance

· Increase flexibility and joint range of motion

· Develop flatter abdominals and trimmer waistline

· Reduce back pain

· Reduce stress

If you are involved in sports it will also:

· Increase power and focus

· Improve co-ordination and balance

· Reduce recovery time and risk of injury

What is Pilates like in Kansas City?

Pilates has become very popular in Kansas City with studios opening in all corners of the city and suburbs.  Many are private studios that focus soley on the Pilates method while others are part of a larger health club or country club or community center.

Since the Pilates method is an excellent choice for increasing core strength and flexibility many golfers and tennis players are turning to Pilates to help keep them on the course and court.  Many physicians and physical therapists are also happy to refer to reputable Pilates studios as the work is so valuable to strengthening backs and improving muscle function and balance.

When choosing a Pilates practioner it is important to ask where they received their training and certification. Pilates is an intricate system of exercise and you want your instructors to be well versed in the work. Look for a studio that has a reputable certifying organization that is nationally or internationally recognized.  Unfortunately with the rise of popularity of Pilates there has been an increased incidence of inadequately trained instructors.