An Overview Of The Pilates Exercise Method

In the 1930s and '40s, Joseph Pilates referred to his exercise method as Contrology, a method of controlling the human body and achieving complete health. Almost a century later, his namesake method is one of the fastest growing trends in fitness, with more than 8 million participants in the United States, according to IDEA Health and Fitness Association. If you are considering Pilates, check with your doctor for recommendations on an exercise program that is appropriate for you.

History

Pilates created his exercise method in the early 1900s, combining principles from yoga, martial arts and other disciplines common in Europe before World War I. After the war, Pilates immigrated to the United States where he marketed his program and his Pilates machines to dancers, boxers, performers and enthusiasts in the New York City area. He passed away in 1968, leaving his studio under the direction of Romana Kryzanowska, who continues teaching Pilates' method in the classical tradition.

Matwork

The backbone of the Pilates method is a series of 34 exercises, similar to calisthenics, performed on a mat without any props or machines. Pilates highlighted these exercises in his book, "Return to Life Through Contrology." Originally published in 1945, the book is still in print. You can find Pilates mat classes at Pilates studios, YMCAs, health clubs and community centers, or you can find books and DVDs for home use.

Machines

Pilates designed his original machines while interred in England during World War I. Legend has it that none of the soldiers under Pilates' care as a trainer died of the flu during the pandemic that swept the world during this period.The reformer and Cadillac units of today are still about the size of a bed, and use springs for resistance, just like the machines that he fashioned out of hospital beds about a century ago. With the success of those machines, Pilates continued using springs for resistance on his electric and wunda chairs.

Industry

Although Pilates training is an unlicensed industry in the United States, you can check the credentials of potential trainers. The Pilates Method Alliance offers a third-party certification for Pilates professionals, involving a test that requires a minimum of 450 hours of teacher training. This association is independent from teacher training schools, and seeks to set a high industry standard for Pilates trainers. Certifications from teacher training schools designate that a participant has met the standards of the school, not that they have met a licensing requirement or a third-party standard.