Pilates

Whether you require rehabilitation or to help enhance your sports performance, increase your flexibility, perhaps during pregnancy or for general fitness and toning the body, Pilates is suitable for you.

Pilates is a method of exercise to help develop your core strength, flexibility, body awareness, balance and postural alignment. Working the body from inside out the machines will help facilitate the movement either by adding resistance (springs) or reducing the tension to challenge your workout. Joseph Pilates invented his renowned technique in the early 1900’s and his original techniques are combined with a modern, functional approach to health and fitness.

Most common equipment used in Pilates classes

• Reformers
• Trapeze Table
• Combo Chair
• Spine Corrector
• Ladder Barrel

The Pilates approach

The Pilates approach to exercise is a unique fusion of eastern and western movement techniques. The exercises encourage the individual to consciously sense how and where their body moves in space (proprioception). This allows the mind and body to act in an integrated fashion.

Pilates developed a set of exercises to help achieve this mind body integration by using the following principles:

• Centring
• (Body) Alignment
• Breathing
• Control
• Precision
• Flowing movement
• Relaxation

The original set of exercises have now been modified and enhanced with new knowledge of exercise physiology. Nevertheless, all the exercises used embody the principles listed above. Exercises that consciously combine mind and body interaction, allow an increased awareness of body mechanics, balance, co-ordination, body alignment and spatial awareness.

All these are united through flowing movement linked to our breathing. The exercises are designed to work the body as a whole improving strength, flexibility, posture and co-ordination.

Today this exercise repertoire is offered as a floor matwork class in many health clubs, leisure centres and public halls. These group classes are complemented by a growing number of Pilates studios offering small group (4-6 people) or personal tuition. Many studios are also equipped with a full range of spring and gravity based resistance machines.

These machines are all designed to allow Pilates exercises to be undertaken whilst giving the body support and encouraging alignment.

In this supported environment the machines then allow our trunk (the torso) or our limbs (arms & legs) to be exercised against the resistance of gravity or the springs.

This is ideal when through weakness or injury the unsupported body would not be able to achieve the same results. The machines also allow the joints of the body to move through their full ranges of movement in a number of planes, something not possible on the floor. This increases flexibility and encourages an all round muscle balance and suppleness.

Pilates Applications

The Pilates approach has two main applications: general fitness and recovery from dysfunction or injury (rehabilitation).

Pilates Rehabilitation is generally only offered by professionals with a medically based training. These include chiropractors, osteopaths, physiotherapists/physical therapists or experienced Pilates instructors working alongside a clinician.

Professional Qualifications

David Canevaro has undertaken the clinically based Rehabilitation Programme with Polestar Pilates UK Ltd.

This comprehensive course is designed to allow the practitioner to develop programmes for all dysfunctions of the neuromusculoskeletal system, chronic pain patients, and specialities such as sports and dance medicine.