What the Heck is Pilates?

Have you ever wondered what the heck is Pilates?

Well it wasn't always called Pilates. In fact, the originator, Joseph Pilates, called his movement practice Contrology to emphasis the intention of control over one's body, mind and spirit. Joseph Pilates started this revolutionary movement practice back in the 1920s, so though it's only been mainstream since the 90s, it's actually been around for over a century!

Mr. Pilates was extremely interested in the body's natural ability to heal. His father was a gymnast and his mother was a naturopath. As a child Pilates was very ill and he spent most of his young adult life working hard to not only overcome his childhood illness but to transform his body into a supple, strong, tool, capable of meeting his every whim. He loved to study animals in nature, to dive, to ski and to explore his body's limits.

Pilates was also an incredible inventor and created many pieces of equipment or apparatus to help facilitate his vision of stronger, healthier humans. Often the intention behind the inventions was to help support his students to develop their strength and flexibility while making adaptations that would help them practice his mat work series. The beauty of this approach is that his legacy has created an incredibly approachable and adaptable form of fitness. In fact, Mr. Pilates' first piece of equipment is rumored to have been made from the springs under a bed while he was interned on the Isle of Man during WWI. He was helping the other internees to stay healthy during the TB pandemic of 1918.

Though Pilates is recognized for its unique apparatus (the Universal Reformer, the Wunder Chair, the Cadillac, the Barrell, etc), it is most well known for the mat work. The mat work invites you to move your spine in all directions, to coordinate your breath and flow, to use the resistance of your own body weight to challenge your strength and range of motion, and to develop your mind's ability to expand your awareness of how you both move and live in the world.

We love Pilates as a form of fitness, because, just like our approach at Radiant Effect, it is designed to meet you where you're at. So whether you are recovering from a hip replacement, learning to love your spine, unwinding years of poor posture, looking to elevate your other fitness passions, or you just want to feel and perform better, there is something for you inside the Pilates repertoire.

Pilates at Radiant Effect combines years of study of this century old practice with practical wisdom, compassionate knowledge, and an invitation to go at your own pace and trust your own body. To learn more, come join us for live classes on zoom!

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