A Little History...

This system, combined with Mat work, formed the foundation of his method. Doctors at the camp noticed that patients who practiced Pilates improved faster than those who did not. The 1918 influenza pandemic hit and decimated populations all over the world, however, it is told that the inmates that followed Joseph's routine survived due to their good health.After the war Joseph returned to Germany. He continued training police officers and also worked with dance and movement experts. When he was pressured to train the New German Army, Joseph chose to leave Germany. He immigrated to New York, and on the boat met Clara, a nurse. The two married and founded a studio. The first official Pilates studio was set up in New York City in 1926. At first practiced chiefly by dancers and elite athletes, today, it has also filtered into the sports and fitness world.

Here are some examples of the equipment and exercises:

What will Pilates do for me?

Pilates is a full-body exercise system that uses a series of machines and exercises. It works the entire body, both the right and left sides, in unison. It focuses primarily on what Joseph Pilates called the powerhouse, which is the area that spans from the bottom of your ribs all the way to your hip line, wrapping from front to back like a corset, and includes the abdominal muscles, lower back muscles, pelvic floor, muscles around the hips, and the glutes. Focusing on the powerhouse allows the rest of the body to move freely, while still working out the whole body in unison to build strength and flexibility. It results in long and strong muscles and an overall awareness. With detailed cues from an instructor, you become aware of the deep muscles that are not generally used. Pilates also corrects structural imbalances, thus making it beneficial to everyday movement.

Over a committed period of time, Pilates can change the shape of the body and improve posture. The workouts consists of a series of exercises using specialized equipment as well as mat work. Because of its low-impact nature, Pilates is also ideal for injury rehabilitation and prevention.

When executed correctly, Pilates can:

• Improve posture, giving the appearance of a taller, leaner body

• Increase core strength/stability

• Enhance balance, strength, and flexibility

• Heighten body awareness

• Complement other methods of exercises/sports performance

• Improve coordination and circulation

• Prevent injuries

• Develop longer & leaner muscles

• Flatten, tone and strengthen the abdominal area

What is the difference between Pilates and yoga?

There is synergy between Pilates and yoga, and because there is a mind-body connection in both, they integrate well, but they are definitely different. One difference is that there is an entire line of equipment in Pilates that doesn't exist in yoga, so it provides a different angle: you're doing exercises with the assistance and resistance of springs and pulleys. The springs may assist you or challenge you, depending on the exercise.Both Pilates and yoga build strength and flexibility and work the whole body, though you'll find that Pilates focuses more on core stabilization: the powerhouse serves as the center of all movement, allowing the rest of the body to move freely while still building strength and flexibility unilaterally throughout the body. The six Pilates principals (centering, control, concentration, precision, breath and flow) train the body to move efficiently with minimal impact on the body. The balance between strength and flexibility creates a healthy, vigorous and symmetrical workout for all muscle groups resulting in a leaner, more balanced, and stronger body. Oprah's O Magazine has an interesting article comparing aspects of Pilates and yoga: Yoga vs. Pilates.