The History of Pilates

In order to understand the basics of Pilates and why it can work for you, you first need to understand where Pilates came from. Pilates was originally formed in Germany by a man of the same name.

Pilates was designed by a man that had many health afflictions as a child. The boy wanted to overcome the hardships he faced. He hoped exercise would not only boost his morale, but also his body's defense against his illnesses.

The year was 1880 when Joseph Pilates was born. During his youthful years, he tried a number of things to try to strengthen his body. After several failed attempts to create the perfect program for his frail form he came up with the series of movements we now know as Pilates. However, it wasn't until the 1920's that the movements Pilates created were truly perfected.

One of the things that make Pilates so great is that the movements and exercises you do seek to give you strength and flexibility, but not to build any serious amount of bulk to your frame. Pilates is not about building muscle, it is about working with your body and not against it. You need to be able to take what you have been given and make that work for you before attempting anything else and that is the philosophy that Pilates was founded on.

As you learn more about Pilates you will find that it is designed for each person's body. Pilates will align your bones through a series of movements and this will allow your body to work with less strain thanks to the activity of exercise you are achieving.

Pilates appeals to a number of people. It doesn't matter what type of person you are or what level of training your body is at. Pilates can help you improve your body's natural functioning as well as help boost confidence and your mental well being.

The most wonderful thing you will discover about Pilates is that you don't have to suffer through the movements to feel better. You are training your body with intelligent design and therefore you will not need to work twice as hard, as you may have to do with other work out programs.

Pilates was set up to create balance within your body. This will help you to realign your bones and can also help to improve your posture. Another positive feature is the lean muscles that you will form thanks to your work outs.

Pilates is excellent exercise for everyone no matter their shape or size. In fact, many videos and exercise clubs have created classes for people with disabilities, arthritis, general strength or weight loss issues, different strength issues, and even for pregnant or birthing mothers.

In the following articles we will explain how Pilates can each help these people and what the different levels mean for people taking the classes and working on gaining strength. As you will come to see Pilates is an easy and secure exercise for everyone and once you try it you will be thankful you did.

MORE RESOURCES:

RELATED ARTICLES

Basic Yoga Poses (Asanas)
In most forms of Yoga there are three components to the practice; breathing, concentration and physical poses also known as asanas. The two poses below are the most common asanas used in Western Yoga practice today.

Paths of Yoga I
With dozens of Hollywood celebrities following in their Guru's lotus footsteps and the sick Western commercial behaviour exploding Yogas popularity to a system that simply enhances people's health, Yoga remains a system of spiritual unity of mind, body and soul among millions of Indians and many others from Eastern beliefs, as it has been for over five thousand years. As a result, some forms of yoga have gained significant popularity outside India, particularly in the West during the past century.

Discover How Yoga Will Help You Reach Your Goals - Part 1
Time is valuable and there are a number of successful methods for goal realization. Yoga will cross train your mind and body for maximum potential.

Mind and Thoughts
Yoga is controlling of thoughts arising in the mind. When thoughts are controlled or prevented through practice, the seer or practitioner(yogi) rests in his true self or soul(atman).

Yoga for Every BODY
We all want to feel loved, open, free and peaceful. We all desire to let go of the ideals and expectations of the "world" and be simply still.

Yoga - The Solution for Insomnia
At one time, or another, all of us have experienced insomnia for any type of reason. There are times when lack of sleep just can't be helped, such as: the loss a loved one, going through a divorce, and losing your job.

Eating Wisely and Weight Loss
Please bear in mind that I am not a dietician, or a physician, and my opinions are those of a Yoga teacher, personal fitness trainer, and life-long student of Ayurveda. Always consult your family physician before changing your diet.

This is Not Your Grandma's Rocking Chair
Senior Yoga / Chair YogaIs it possible that grandparents are working out more than any other members of the family? Absolutely - I see energetic Chair Yoga classes with as many as 50 people in a single class. Lately, I have been training local Yoga teachers to keep up with this popular demand.

Yogic Way of Controlling of Thoughts
As described in my earlier article..

Yoga and Christianity a Conflict?
Being a practicing Christian myself, there are very few things in Yoga that conflict with Christianity. Some critics argue that Yoga and Christianity cannot co-exist, and yet we know that Yoga is not a religion.

Some Tantric Exercises to Increase General Well-Being and Sexual Abilities
A healthy anal and genital area is of great importance both for the general well-being and for the sexual abilities. The same is thrue about a healthy respiratory tract and breathing apparatus.

Are You Willing To Follow Eight Yoga Exercises For the Lower Back?
EXERCISES FOR BACK RELIEFMany people believe that rest is best for a painful back, but actually, what your back really needs when it's hurt is exercise. Regular exercise relieves back pain by strengthening and stretching the muscles that support the spine and helps to prevent future injury.

The History of Yoga
The history of yoga is long and steeped in tradition. Contrary to what some people may believe, yoga was not developed as the newest way to slim down so they could fit into a smaller pants size.

Pain and Sorrow
Patanjali in his Yogasutra describes that people are afflicted with five kinds of pain. These are - ignorance(avidya), attachment(raga), contempt(dvesha) and fear of death(abhinivesh)(II.

Can a Yoga Prop Help Prop Up Your Practice?
Some people may wonder if using a yoga prop can help them get more out of their practice. My personal opinion is yes.

How to Use Yoga DVDs and Videos to Round Out Your Practice
I absolutely love using yoga DVDs and yoga videos during my practices. As a matter of fact, I use one of them almost every time I do yoga.

Using Yoga to Manage ADD
Exercise is a powerful tool for ADD management. Medical professionals recommend that adults get at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise (such as running or biking) 3-5 times per week to improve their general health.

Yoga Instruction - How to Find the Right Yoga Teacher for You
In order to find a quality yoga instructor, you need to know what to look for. Since there is no universal certification program for yoga teachers, not all of them are created equal as you can see by the following example.

Stress - How To Manage Effectively
Stress is very common in all walks of life and in all occupations. There are different kinds of stress, such as acute, episodic and chronic.

Nine Things You Should Know About Yoga for Children
Here are some guidelines and realistic expectations for parents, who are considering Yoga for their children. For your child, Yoga is much more than a kid's fitness class.