Pilates
The Pilates method of body conditioning is a unique system of stretching and strengthening exercises developed over ninety years ago by Jospeh H. Pilates. It strengthens and tones muscles, improves posture, provides flexibility and balance, unites body and mind, and creates a more streamlined shape.
The Pilates philosophy focuses on training the mind and body to work together toward the goal of overall fitness. Although born in a completely different era, Joseph Pilates understood the physical and mental pressures of a busy schedule. He sought to reeducate us to work our bodies with effeiency of performing our daily tasks in mind. Pilates believed that his method would propel people to become more productive both mentally and physically.
Pilates began developing his exercise system in Germany in the early 1900s. Plagued by asthma and rickets as a child, Pilates' method sprang form his determination to strengthen his frail and sickly body. He called his methos "The Art of Contrology," or muscle control, to highlight his unique approach of using the mind to master the muscles. Interned during the First World War, he taught his method to fellow internees and successfully maintained their health through the deadly influenza epidemic of 1918. During the latter part of the war Pilates served as an orderly in a hospital on the Isle of Man. He attached spring to the hospital beds to support the patients' ailing limbs while he worked with them, and he and the doctors noticed that the patients were improving faster.
These spring-based exercises became the basisis for the apparatus Pilates would later design to be used in conjunction with the matwork. That is why the Pilates name is often associated with strange-looking machines, but the matwork is the original movement system that he created and is just as effective as the work done on the machines.
Pilates set up the first official Studio in New York City after immigrating to the US in 1926. Since its introduction to American culture Pilates has maintained a steady and devout following. It has been the secret of dancers and performers since the late 1920s. In recent years it has been discovered by athletes, models, and actors who say they owe their strong, lithe bodies to the Pilates method.
Joseph Pilates authored a book in 1945 called Return to LIfe. That title epitomizes the very nature of the Pilates methos. Through concentrated and creative effort you too will reap the myriad benefits that this unique method of conditioning has to offer, reawakening your body through movement and your mind through conscious thought. The combination resulrs in the extra plus of the Pilates method: a revitalization of spirit that is a crucial factor in maintaining good helath and a sound mind and body.*
*Excerpt from The Pilates Body by Brooke Siler, Broadway Books, 2000.
Peak Pilates Deluxe System
At Balance, we offer individual instruction on the Peak Pilates System Deluxe.
The PPS combines three essential pieces of equipement, the Reformer, Cadillac (Tower End), and Mat, into one compact unit. The PPS is the most versatile and innovative piece of Pilates equipement available today.
The equipment sequences further challenge the core muscles of the body to reach and lengthen developing a strong, lean body.
Matwork
The matwork integrates whole body movements focused mainly on the "Powerhouse," the area just above and below the navel, wrapping around the body to include abdominals, glutes, hips, and lower back. In Pilates, we "lengthen to strengthen" using precise, controled movements that results in a uniformly developed body that has long, lean muscles. With consistent training, students find their joint pain decreased, their stamina increased and their bodies becoming stronger and more streamlined. All classes at Balance infuse matwork into the equipment-based classes.
Pilates Chair - 6 Students Max per Class
The latest in Pilates Equipment, the MVe Chair, offers a challenging workout for students. This class takes matwork to the next level integrating a special "chair" we sit on, stand on, lay over, and sometimes under to press against its springs and add an extra challenge to our core work. ***Prior experience in Pilates is necessary to take this class.***
Pilatesstick - 8 Students Max per Class
Experience Pilates "without limits" with the Pilatesstick, a completely portable (and very affordable) version of the traditional Tower. During our classes Matwork is infused with challenging spring resistance. We will explore prone, seated, kneeling and standing exercises to develop strong arms and abs and long lean legs. See a Stick in action
CLICK HERE!
Pilates Arc - 10 Sutdents Max per Class
Sculpt a streamlined physique while improving alignment and strenghtening your core on our lightweight step barrel or Pilates Arc. The Arc is perfect for toning the lower body, improving balance, opening tight hips and shoulders as well as developing a strong core.
Top-level athletes like Olympic Swimmer Natalie Coughlin love the Pilates Arc. CLICK HERE! to find out why.
Balanced Body Sport Reformer - 3 Students per Class
The reformer offers all the famous benefits of Pilates including overall strength, flexibility, coordination, and balance. These things in turn lead to daily life improvements like better posture, graceful, efficient movement, and for many, relief from pain associated with physical imbalances such as bak pain. When we talk about strength building and Pilates, the muscles of the core, are paramount. Flat abs, strong backs, toned buttock and thighs are all results of this emphasis. Other equipment and mat exercises do that too, but the reformer creates a unique and varied exercise environment. All kinds of exercises are done on the reformer to promote length, strength, flexibility, and balance. Most Pilates reformer exercises have to do with pushing or pulling the carriage, or holding the carriage steady during an exercise as it is pulled on by the springs. The reformer is large enough to accommodate full-range motion which is wonderful for increasing flexibility while building strength. It seems to invite the length we want to create in the body. And it trains the body to sustain that length. Pushing and pulling with legs or arms against the resistance of the springs, carriage, and body weight is generally strength building. The exercises provide enough resistance and movement variety to help build strong bones. And there is a special feature: eccentric muscle contractions. This is when a muscle lengthens as it resists a force. The reformer is a set-up for eccentric contraction. That is one of the keys to achieving the long, strong muscles without bulk that Pilates is known for. The instability of a rolling carriage with the springs set at different levels of resistance provides all kinds of stability challenges that develop core strength and promote better balance. Exercising with the reformer is possible for anyone, at any level of fitness. It's no wonder the full name of the reformer is the Universal Reformer. For more info CLICK HERE!
