The Guiding Principles of Pilates

Chances are you have probably heard about pilates, even if you may not know exactly what it is. Pilates is a form of exercise that focuses on moving the body in long, smooth controlled movements that emphasize precision and fluidity. Its namesake Joseph H. Pilates, who along with his wife Clara popularized this body routine in New York City beginning in the 1920s and continuing until his death in the late 1960s, first practiced the pilates method. Originally, Pilates had designed his special form of exercise as a form of therapy to treat the wounded soldiers he treated as a nurse during the First World War. He toyed with the springs on the hospital bed mattresses and created the first prototypes of his famous pilates resistance machines. In the United States, he and his wife Clara opened a studio on Fourth Avenue, sharing a building with the New York City Ballet. Originally they called their special form of exercise "contrology." But the name never really caught on. Now universally regarded as the Pilates Method, it has become one of the most popular fitness crazes to take hold of the professional athletes and the public.

So what are the guiding principles of pilates? Pilates, like yoga and martial arts, has a strong mind-body element whose underlying principle is to unite the body. Through the use of focused breath control, postural symmetry, stabilization of the shoulders and pelvis, joint mobility, muscular flexibility, and developing the core strength, pilates can achieve significant improvements in posture, balance, and flexibility. One of the main principles of pilates is an emphasis on strengthening the whole body, rather than just specific sets of muscles. Pilates strengthens muscles that are usually ignored or overlooked by other forms of exercise. For instance, pilates even strengthens the muscles of the ankles and feet. Because pilates strives to achieve whole body strength and fluidity, most fitness experts agree that regular pilates practice can help prevent injury. Another fundamental of the Pilates Method has to do with strengthening the core. The core refers to the group of deep abdominal muscles, or the trunk of the body. Pilates reasoned that strengthening the core would help strengthen the whole body, and help unite the lower extremities with the upper extremities of the body.

Joseph H. Pilates published two texts in his lifetime that outlined his philosophy regarding "contrology." These texts are Return to Life and Your Health. In these texts, Pilates outlined his whole body approach to health. He stressed that pilates practice should strive to unite the mind, body and spirit. He wrote that with proper repetition and progression of his practice, the body would gradually become united with the subtle rhythms of the mind, even the subconscious. Furthermore, Pilates emphasized the importance of using the Pilates Method in order to seek overall good health and wellness. He believed that the Pilates Method should not simply act as a tool to sculpt the physical self, but as means to unite the body with the mind and spirit to work toward a state of health and joy.