Pilates: background and history

Pilates: History, Uses and Benefits

Background on Pilates

While other ancient forms of exercise have a more dubious or nebulous history, the beginnings of pilates tend to actually be well-known and well-documented. Joseph Pilates created this form of exercise in the 1920s as a means of rehabilitating individuals, athletes and others who were under great physical strain (Weil, 2014). "Some of the first people treated by Pilates were soldiers returning from war and dancers such as Martha Graham and George Balanchine (to strengthen their bodies and heal their aches and pains)" (Weil, 2014). While pilates has been tweaked and adjusted throughout the years, it still remains a heavily used form of exercise, and stays true to its origins. One of the core tenets of pilates is that it is focused creating an intense amount of strength training, but without creating unnecessary bulk. The pilates method revolves around engaging in a series of controlled movements which are performed on particularly designed spring resistant machines while specially trained instructors oversee one's efforts. Pilates is a form of resistance exercise that raises the heart rate, though at its core, it's a form of strength-training and more like weight-training, than it is like running (Weil, 2014).

Pilates Impact on the Body

As a result of the fact that pilates has such a strong focus on core muscle strength and spinal alignment; the benefits to the overall human body are intense. Also, because pilates has such a strong focus on a harmonious mind-body interaction during the exercise, one is more likely to reap a multitude of benefits during the process.

Mind-Body Harmony

One of the elements of the pilates work-out which makes it so beneficial is the fact that it revolves around a powerful balance between the mind and body. Pilates focuses on correct breathing, along with correct spinal and pelvic alignment, along with the concentration on smooth, flowing movements, allowing one the proper cohesion between mind and body with controlled movement. With pilates, quality of the exercise engaged in is always valued over the number of repetitions involved. Proper breathing is fundamentally essential and helps one engage in movements with the utmost power and effectiveness: it can also help one to minimize stress in one's daily life (pilates.com, 2014).

Benefits to the Core Muscles

One of the primary benefits of pilates is that it can assist one in the development of a strong core: a flat stomach and a strong back are some of the more marked benefits of pilates. "The core consists of the deep abdominal muscles along with the muscles closest to the spine. Control of the core is achieved by integrating the trunk, pelvis and shoulder girdle" (pilates.com, 2014). This creates a situation where the individual is going to develop, long, lean muscles which are less prone to injury. This means that pilates empowers the individual to develop muscles which are more elongated and strengthened and where flexibility is paramount (pilates.com, 2014).

Many traditional workouts don't focus on the concepts and pillars which make pilates so effective. Traditional workouts generally work the same muscles groups, creating a situation where dominant muscles get stronger, and weaker muscles don't get the same attention and strength. This creates a body where the muscular imbalance is profound and that makes one vulnerable to injury. On the other hand, the overwhelming benefit of pilates is its ability to condition the whole body: the entire musculature and every muscle group are conditioned in a balanced fashion.

The fact that pilates is able to so effectively strengthen the core is a fact that is not to be overlooked. As the core musculature has a profound impact on the health and wellness of the overall body. Some of the main core muscles are: "erector spinae (located in your back along your spine), the internal and external obliques (the sides of your abdomen), the transverse abdominis (located deep in your gut, this muscle pulls your belly button in toward your spine), the rectus abdominis (the "six-pack"), and hip flexors (in your pelvis and upper leg)" (Weil, 2014). A well-trained pilates instructor will insure that one's core muscles are constantly and consistently engaged, causing one to focus on one's muscles, along with one's breath, the contraction of one's muscles and the quality of one's movements; these are the key elements of pilates that will be emphasized during every session. The overwhelming goal of pilates is to reach a state known as "contrology" where there is an intense harmony of mind, body and spirit: the 34 original exercises that Pilates that were created for pilates focuses on the overarching principles of contrology.

Advantages of Pilates Training on Scoliosis

As stated by the Mayo Clinic, scoliosis is referred to as a sideways curvature of the spine that generally occurs during the growth spurt just before puberty, and while it can occur as a result of underlying conditions like cerebral palsy, there is still much about the cause of scoliosis that many do not know about. Pilates has been proven to be an effective treatment for this often unexplained curvature. One major benefit of pilates for scoliosis is that it helps clients to identify their scoliosis and then to educate the client about this scoliosis, along with posture issues that can be corrected (Martin, 2009). "One of the best things Pilates instructors can do is give some control back to people by teaching them internal control. Being able to hold your spine from the inside is one huge relief to those of us with soft spines" (Martin, 2009). One thing that clients need to know is that change occurs incrementally and that there are no instantaneous fixes that can be reaped. Clients need to engage in manual therapy treatment to help minimize discomfort and to loosen up fascia so new movement patterns can be embraced (Martin, 2009).