Blog Layout
What is Pilates (part 2)?
Jane Arlow • June 5, 2020
It's named after its creator, Joseph Pilates
Pilates is named after a real person.
So, first of all, if you ever wondered where the name "Pilates" came from, it comes from the name of its creator, Joseph Hubertus Pilates who was born in Germany in 1881. He developed his fitness regime which he called "Contrology" while interned in England during WW1. After the war, he moved to New York and with his partner, Clara and started training dancers who were attracted by the long, lean muscles that the system created.
Joe liked tighty-whiteys.
If you ever Google images of Joe Pilates, you'll see many pictures of him in his tighty-whiteys doing some strange stuff. The picture below of him standing on someone while they do The Hundred, is not untypical. I do not encourage any of my gentleman participants to come to class dressed like this. Nor will I ever stand on your stomach while you work out. You're welcome.
Exercise physiology and bio-mechanics understanding has moved on since he started teaching.
While Joe was undoubtedly ahead of his time when it comes to the design of his mat and apparatus exercises, many of the exercises that he recommended are taught in a modified form today because we know how the body works much better. However, having said that, a lot of the exercises are still taught as originally designed. The aim of the exercises is to encourage the body to work as a kinetic whole. And, the exercises, when taught in order do make a coherent whole body workout.
There are thirty-four exercises in the classical mat repertoire
The exercises, when done together in order, tend to be clustered in threes and follow a "prep, exercise, release" pattern. For example, The Hundred - warm up your abs and back; Rollup - use your abs and back; Rollover - release your back and abs. If you're on Instagram or Facebook, check out my posts in March where I post a picture or video of each of the exercises for #Marchmatness.
"The Seal" is a real exercise
Whatever you privately think, it's not my attempt to make you roll around like a four year old and amuse myself in class. It's actually number thirty in the repertoire.
Want to try it but not sure if you'll like it?
You can try us for free by clicking here.
Wondering what the catch is?
No catch!
At the end of the class, if you enjoy it and we think that we can help you to feel less stiff and achy and more flexy, we'll share with you how you can carry on working with us. That's it.
See you on the mat!
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