| Pilates developed from the hard work and mind of | | | | in and of itself. It does not include effective |
| Joseph Pilates. Joseph Pilates was born in Germany in | | | | cardiovascular training. Also, if you are looking to build |
| 1880 and he was a sickly child who suffered from the | | | | muscle mass, Pilates is probably not for you. Since the |
| rickets and asthma among other things. He was never | | | | system does not promote high impact muscle training, |
| very athletic and as a result of his early limitations, he | | | | the muscle mass accrued with Pilates is usually less |
| became determined to help others overcome their | | | | than that found in other exercise programs. It has been |
| disabilities. He worked with veterans during and after | | | | proven however, to give you more flexibility and has |
| World War I, helping them to recuperate from injuries. | | | | proven benefits for your entire body. |
| At this point, he began experimenting with springs as a | | | | Today, there are many variations on the Pilates |
| method of resistance to exercise the patient's | | | | method. There are those who were taught by Joseph |
| muscles. After arriving in America, he and his wife | | | | Pilates himself and have handed that knowledge down |
| Clara opened the first Pilates studio in New York City | | | | to their students exactly as they received it from the |
| in 1926. Joseph Pilates died in 1967, but his techniques | | | | master. There are many more who have added |
| continued on with his students who taught others. | | | | various exercises or changed some of the method, |
| The Pilates exercise system focuses mainly on | | | | but they still call it Pilates. The advertising can |
| resistance exercises to stretch and strengthen | | | | sometimes be deceptive, so just make sure that you |
| muscles throughout the entire body. Some of the ideas | | | | are going to get what you want out of the program |
| in Pilates originated in various forms of Yoga, but the | | | | with a trained, certified instructor. |
| way they are combined is rather unique to the Pilates | | | | Whether you are injured, disabled, a beginning |
| method. Many dancers use Pilates as a way to | | | | exerciser or someone who has been exercising for |
| strengthen and tone their muscles. Athletes of all | | | | years, there will be some form of Pilates that is right |
| varieties have used these techniques to rehabilitate | | | | for you; just make sure you have a competent |
| from injuries. | | | | instructor whom you feel comfortable working with. |
| Although Pilates has numerous proven benefits to | | | | After all, it is your body and you should have a say in |
| everyone, there are some who criticize the technique. | | | | the way it is trained. |
| One is that Pilates is not a complete exercise program | | | | |