So you’ve heard the word “Pilates” mentioned over and over – by the mom’s in your son’s class, your neighbor, the person that joined your golf foresome last week, some NFL players, and your cousin who always complained about having a bad back -- now you want to do a little research to see if Pilates is the right exercise for you.
The first thing you need to know, there are two basic styles of Pilates – Classical and Contemporary.
Classical Pilates is a form of exercise that most closely follows the discipline developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century that emphasizes the balanced development of the body. This means Classical Pilates follows Joseph Pilates’ original exercises and the order in which they were performed and followed precisely.
Contemporary Pilates has been modernized by adjusting the exercises to fit with modern research and has a heavy influence from physical therapy and biomechanics. Many exercises remain the same, but new exercises have been included, or variations have been added allowing for injury rehabilitation and creativity by the instructor.
Let’s get started. There are many options for Pilates’ classes: at a Pilates studio, a gym, a country club, or someone who comes to your home. Whichever environment you’re most comfortable, make sure you are training with a certified Pilates instructor.
First comes Mat. Through a system of exercises, a Pilates Mat class is the king of core exercise. Almost every Pilates’ exercise comes from an awareness of the core and builds on deep stability training. The core includes the whole central section of the body – from the pelvis and hips up through the mid-section. You will learn the fundamental Pilates movements including neutral spine, properly engaged core, C-curve, shoulder and pelvic stability, spinal articulation, full breathing and working with oppositional energy.
Pilates 101
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