Welcome to Pilates Central!
At Pilates Central we realize that not everyone knows or has even heard of Pilates. That is why here we provide you with some basic information about what Pilates is and what it does. However, we also know that this does not exhaust all of the questions you might have, so if their is a question that is not answered here or in our F.A.Q.'s page, please e-mail us
What is Pilates?
Pilates is an exercise system that dramatically transforms the way your body looks and feels by focusing on stretching and building strength with reisistance.
Pilates is excellent for developing a strong "core" or center of the body, and it develops an evenly conditioned body. It elongates and strengthens muscles creating elasticity and joint mobility. No other exercise system is so gentle to your body while giving it a challenging workout with incredible results.
Joseph H. Pilates was a genius of the body and the Founder of the Pilates Technique. Born in Germany in 1886, he had a life long interest in body conditioning. As a frail child determined to become stronger, he studied gymnastics, and became an accomplished skier and swimmer. He joined the circus and traveled to England, where, in 1914, he was interned during WW1 as an enemy alien on the Isle of Man along with 26,000 men for five years. During this time he worked as in intern in the camp hospital and led 1000 men in daily exercise sessions to keep their bodies and minds healthy. After the war he patented many spring loaded apparatuses. He came to America in 1926 and opened his studio in New York next to Madison Square Garden. Besides boxers, his clients included George Balanchine , Ted Shawn and Martha Graham’s dancers. He continued to teach in the 1940’s,’50’s and 60’s until his death in 1967.
Today, Pilates consists of approximately 800 different movements performed on mats and equipment, including a modification of Pilates’ “Universal Reformer” hospital-bed design. The movements are designed to work several muscle groups simultaneously through smooth, continuous motion, with a particular concentration on strengthening and stabilizing the body’s core—the abdomen, back and pelvic girdle region.
The result is a balanced approach to exercise where no muscle group is overworked or under-worked, and the body works as an efficient, holistic system in sport and daily activity.
For more information on Joseph Pilates and his work go to
http://www.pilates.com/history.html or http://www.pilatesmethodalliance.org/whatis.html
Who Should do Pilates?
Everyone does Pilates, from New York City Ballet dancers to San Francisco 49ers football players,professional golfers including Tiger Woods, to those suffering from chronic pain.
Pilates is for everyone: all ages, physical abilities and fitness levels. At Pilates Central we offer individualized programs for those new to fitness as well as challenging workouts for competitive athletes. These movements are also perfectly suited for pregnant and post-partum women. Professional athletes, seniors, men and women of all ages and physical backgrounds are active Pilate’s devotees.
Pilates also suits an aging population because, without stressing joints, it enhances circulation, flexibility, and builds muscle mass which fights osteoporosis. Through Pilates, men and women of all ages and fitness levels can build muscle mass, enhance circulation, flexibility and posture, and reduce chronic pain.
Benefits of Pilates
- longer, leaner muscles (less bulk, more freedom of movement)
- improves postural problems
- increases core strength/stability and peripheral mobility
- helps prevent injury
- enhances functional fitness, ease of movement
- balances strength & flexibility
- heightens body awareness
- no-impact – easy on the joints
- can be customized to suit everyone from rehab patients to elite athletes
- complements other methods of exercise
- improves performance in sports (golf, skiing, skating, etc.)
- improves balance, coordination & circulation
Who Does Pilates?
Testimonials from some famous devotees...
The list of celebrities who do Pilates is almost endless, from Julia Roberts, Sharon Stone, Uma Thurman, Danny Glover, Liz Hurley, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sting and Madonna to Martin Amis, John Cleese and Ian McKellen. It would almost be quicker to compile a list of celebrities who don’t do Pilates.
Professional Athletes also do Pilates here is a short list.
Golfers: Tiger Woods, Rocco Mediate, Rich Beem, Charles Nardello, Annika Sorenstam, David Duval, Kelli Kuehne, Andrew McGee, Grace Park and Carin Koch .
Basketball: Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Greg Oden, Ben Gordon, Lebron James, Minnesota Timberwolves
New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards.
Baseball: James Loney, Curt Schilling, Brewers
Football: R.W McQuarters, Ruben Brown, Rodney Harrison, Calvin Johnson, Al Wallace, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oakland Raiders.
Olympic Athletes: Kerry Walsh and Misty May-Treanor (Volley ball gold), Sanya Richards (running), Dara Torres, Natalie Coughlin (swimming), Andre Ward (boxing), Julia Mancuso (skiing)
Here is what some of them of them say about it:
- I do Pilates now, early in the morning. It wakes you up, and it’s kind of refreshing. Ashley Greene star in the movie Twilight.
- “I do a lot of pilates. An immense amount of pilates. ”Megan Fox star of Transformers
- 'I have been going for 13 years... How do I measure the success of Pilates? Certainly, I emerge with a tremendous sense of wellbeing, and even if I do call at the coffee shop for a croissant afterwards, I still feel my health has been served. I remain active and relatively agile.
Joan Bakewell, writer and broadcaster, on the secret of her health and agility at the age of 70 - from a recent article in The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1343883,00.html - 'These [Pilates] exercises are really very necessary when you do a lot of sitting… They keep you flexible enough to pull on your socks as you get older… When I get out of the car now, I don't go arrggghhh…'
Martin Amis, novelist and twice-a-week Pilates devotee - 'I do Pilates four or five times a week. The benefits are subtle, but it increases your flexibility and really tones you up. It also straightens your spine and improves your posture. In the past eight years, I've grown more than two and a half inches (6cm). I am 5ft 7ins (1.70m) and I am very pleased with that.'
Belinda Carlisle, singer and pop icon - ''Now I have muscles of steel and could easily deal with giving birth.'
Hugh Grant, actor and film star - 'I'm a Pilates person. It's great. I had a hip problem. I had a chronic back, a pinched nerve and a hip problem and it's completely solved all of it. I love it. It makes me feel like I'm taller.'
Jennifer Anniston, TV and movie star - 'I've been using Pilates for many years. It's the best system I've found for isolating and strengthening individual muscles without stress to the joints.'Patrick Swayze, movie star
- 'Pilates is the only exercise programme that has changed my body and made me feel great.'
Jamie Lee Curtis, movie star - 'What do I like most about Pilates? 'The fact that I can really feel my body working. I might do 250 crunches but my body is so used to them that I don't really feel them. With Pilates, I can really feel [my abdominals] even if I only do six or 12 repetitions.'
Joan Collins, actress and writer, who first started doing Pilates over 20 years ago - 'You have turned me into a Ferrari; my husband thanks you.'
Ruby Wax, actress, writer and TV personality, to her Pilates teacher
- 'It helps with a lot of injury prevention. I'd recommend it to anyone.'
Elena Baltacha, British tennis player
- 'Lying down doing breathing exercises for one and a half hours a day is not easy. But I believe it is making a difference.'
Seve Ballesteros, the Spanish golfer with a chronic back problem - 'I don't like to waste time. I want to spend it doing the best possible thing for me. Pilates has given me the greatest returns. It sucks your butt up, tones the legs and shoulders. Nothing else gives you definition like it.'
Lucy Lawless, best-known for portraying Xena, Warrior Princess fame - 'Pilates is not just for the fit. It is wonderful for injuries. My damaged shoulder was taken in hand, special exercises prescribed, attentive care always available. A younger member of our group recently had a hip operation and Pilates helped her recovery; another broke a leg and arrived for classes encased in plaster. Already she's back on her feet. I stop short of making medical claims. I merely report what I have seen.'
Joan Bakewell, writer and broadcaster, on the secret of her health and agility at the age of 70 - from a recent article in The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1343883,00.html
