Pilates

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What is Pilates ?

Pilates is a system of specialized exercises developed to improve strength, flexibility and posture.

History:

     

       Method has been designed by Joseph Hubertus Pilates from Germany whose father was a Greek ancestry gymnast and mother was a neuropath.
       In his childhood Pilates was weak and sickly (suffered from asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever). He strongly needed to take care of his physical health and that is why he become very interested in practicing body building, gymnastic, yoga and ‘kung fu’ . As a 14 years old teenager he has perfectly developed his musculature corset and was asked to pose for pictures of anatomical charts.
       Before he turned 30 he moved to England where he worked as a boxer, circus - performer and self defense trainer. When Word War I began he was interned to an internment camp where he has been teaching and improving his system of mat exercises he called himself ‘Contrology’.
       After the war Pilates returned to Germany where he collaborated with Rudolf Laban and other important experts of dance and physical exercise.
       At the age of 42 he moved to United States where (with his wife Clara) opened his first Studio. Soon his method become popular between well – known dancers who wanted to become more aware of usage of mind to control muscles and who needed help with proper training, recovery and rehabilitation.

In his life he published 2 books related to his method:
• Your health (1934)
• Return to life (1945)

He died in United States in 1967 at the age of 86.

Principles: