STARTING PILATES?

The newcomer to Pilates needs to give the exercises a chance. Pilates is not a one-off session. Look at it as ‘time out’ for yourself, to listen to your body and really concentrate – then it will give you rewards.

To get the best from Pilates it’s important that you focus as much mentally as physically. Body and mind need to be fully in tune.

You will find that Pilates is a great way to get to know your body – through breathing and simple constructive exercises that have immediate effect on posture and muscle tone. Pilates is the catalyst that encourages your body to use its natural abilities. You will walk taller, feel stronger and more relaxed from the session. The results will obviously improve with practice.

New to Pilates? Check out 8 Ways to Get More Out of Your Pilates Experience.

PILATES COMPARED WITH YOGA?

Yoga classes generally consist of a series of static postures with the intention of increasing the person’s flexibility and preparing the person for seated meditation. Whereas Pilates classes seek to strengthen core muscles and increase flexibility through movement.

As in Yoga, Pilates also puts emphasis on correct alignment, but the aim in Pilates is to correct muscle imbalance by strengthening antagonist muscle groups, while focusing on those groups that are often neglected, and lengthening those that tend to do all the work.

In both disciplines there is certainly a mind/body connection and very similar fluidity. However, one main difference is that Pilates offers a whole range of apparatus that does not exist in Yoga and therefore provides a completely separate angle. Exercises can be performed with springs and pulleys which will give you assistance or resistance. The springs may assist you with a particular exercise or may make a task more difficult.

PILATES PROGRAMMING?

During the first session we will determine what goals you have, teach you the basics of Pilates and identify an ideal postural alignment that is crucial to every workout.

Each session thereafter will take you through a table of new exercises to complement your mind and body as they become more attuned and ready to accept the challenges of movement that work on your balance, stamina, co-ordination  and all the key muscles working deep into every joint.

PILATES AND MEN?

The Pilates mat exercises were devised by Joseph Pilates, a boxer and wrestler, while he was detained as a prisoner of war. He then went on to develop types of apparatus known as the Reformer and the Cadillac to help with the rehab of injured soldiers.

The systems were designed to strengthen the whole body in all ranges of motion. Pilates uses men’s natural upper body strength, develops core and back muscles and increases leg strength and flexibility. It provides equal benefits to both sexes in helping to deal with stress, prevent injury and create an overall sense of well being.