As soon as I started to tell people I teach Pilates, I have realized that few are familiar with the term. Moreover, I don’t know what link to give them to have a short overview of the method. So here it is…
Pilates is a physical fitness system developed in the early 20th century and bears the name of its creator, Joseph Pilates, after whom it was named. Initially, he called his method “Contrology“.
Benefits of Pilates

- develops strength, flexibility, coordination, speed, agility, endurance
- develops body awareness and control
- corrects posture and alignment
- facilitates optimal function of internal organs
- improves balance and proprioception (the sense of self-movement and body position)
- focuses on breathing and offers a vehicle for concentration and focus
- helps keep musculature and bone structure in an optimal state
- offers a way to inner harmony
- builds a longer, leaner line to the musculature, as it stretches the muscles, so that the muscle strands build longer rather than create bulk.
One precisely executed Pilates session is worth more than several hours at the gym, so if you think Pilates is easy, you’re probably do it in the wrong way 🙂
Is Pilates for everyone? Yes. Pilates has a wide appeal, youth, elderly and everyone in between 🙂 Changes due to Pilates practice include: posture, alignment, weight, athletic performance. May also be used in rehabilitation programs (post injury, post surgery) However, change takes time, commitment and discipline.
As Joseph Pilates said