Pilates
Universal Method

Balance of Body & Mind

Contrology develops the body uniformly,
corrects wrong posture,
restores vitality,
invigorates the mind and elevates the spirit.

— JOSEPH PILATES
Inventor

Pilates is an exercise regime invented by the German fitness expert Joseph H. Pilates (1883 – 1967). After immigrating to the United States in 1926, he opened together with his wife Clara a gym in New York City. Back in the days his method was referred to as “Contrology”.

Pilates is a full body conditioning workout that focuses on alignment, breathing and strengthening the deep core muscles. Unlike other forms of exercises, Pilates does not over-develop some parts of the body while neglecting others. Pilates training focuses on core strength and trains the body as an integrated whole. Pilates workouts promote strength and balanced muscle development as well as flexibility and increased range of motion for the joints.

 

 

Joseph H. Pilates described his method as “the complete coordination of body, mind and spirit.” This is one of the secrets of the Pilates method, we practise each movement with full attention. Moving like this, the body and mind unite to generate the most possible benefit of each exercise. Like for any athlete, dancer, or musician, repetition of these new skills is key. These 6 Pilates principles help us to integrate body and mind: 1.Centering, 2. Concentration, 3. Control, 4. Precision, 5. Breath and 6. Flow 

 

The mind when housed within a healthful body, possesses a glorious sense of power.
— Joseph Pilates
Inventor

BENEFITS OF PILATES

  1. Strengthens the body with emphasis on the core
  2. Builds stamina, strength and control
  3. Improves flexibility
  4. Trains the body and mind
  5. Corrects poor posture and alignment
  6. Stimulates circulation
  7. Increases lung capacity
  8. Prevents back pain
  9. Improves balance and coordination
  10. Enhances your sport performance
"As an ex-opera singer who had fallen into bad habits it took a while for my Pilates to show real results. And as a stroke victim it was genuinely quite difficult to achieve even an approximation to the symmetry which is one of the fundamentals of Pilates. What was very striking was Ilka’s determination to get the fundamentals right - even if it took six months of saying essentially the same thing until somehow the penny dropped. This really is Pilates of a very high order - in the end you can feel the difference which the real thing can make which is nothing short of life-changing."
— N. hills, 60
Client