Getting Started

Pilates was devised by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century when, as a German living in England, he was placed in forced internment. He taught his exercises to other camp members and later he was transferred to act as a nurse to sick internees.  Here he made exercise equipment from springs and whatever he could find to help bedridden patients undertake flexibility and strength training. These early improvisations formed the basis for the resistance equipment that is still used in Pilates studios today.

Used by dancers for decades to maintain a strong, supple and lithe body, Pilates combines elements of yoga, controlled breathing, weight and resistance training and gymnastics to stretch and strengthen the body, increasing flexibility and correcting body alignment. It uses a combination of mat work and machines, though mat work is the most common and most accessible: using your breathing to help you, you will carry out a series of smooth and controlled movements, while maintaining a stable ‘core’ and correctly aligned posture.

To keep your core strong and therefore protect your lower back, you must use your muscles to keep your navel pulled back towards your spine throughout each movement; your shoulders pushed back and down; your neck lengthened and relaxed. This posture is what gives the infamous and enviably flat stomach of Pilates followers. Though it requires surprising strength and focus, when done correctly, Pilates looks effortless.

With devotees boasting long, lean muscles, reduced stress, and no more back problems, and it’s easy to see what all the fuss is about.
One of the first things you’ll notice is greater core strength and a flatter, firmer tummy: few things target the abs as effectively as Pilates; it tackles all of your abdominal muscles, particularly your lower ones, where traditional sit-ups or crunches tend to be less effective; you’ll notice improved overall posture, flexibility and body awareness; improved breathing; reduced stress; a stronger immune system; a reduction
in shoulder and neck ache. In the long term, all muscles will become longer and leaner; for back problems, Pilates is highly recommended by a growing number of osteopaths, chiropractors and physiotherapists.

Kit you'll need

All you need for mat work is a mat, and comfortable clothes that allow easy movement. Pilates is best done barefoot. There are numerous Pilates DVDs and books that you can follow at home, but it’s best to combine these with classes, at least at first, to make sure you’re doing the movements correctly. If you intend on practising at home – and the more you practise; the quicker you’ll advance - you’ll need a mat. You can find these in any large sports shop or specialist yoga shop. Classes will almost always provide mats, along with basic mat work equipment: resistance bands, balls and blocks.

What's Good

Pilates is suitable for absolutely everybody, whether you’re 18 or 80.  It’s good if you’ve never done exercise before, since it allows you to start at a very low level doing small, minimal exercises and as it builds your stamina, allow you to do more.  It’s equally good for experienced athletes: sportsmen like Tiger Woods and even the England rugby squad have used Pilates for its low-impact strength and stamina building. It’s often used to rehabilitate following sporting injuries.  Apart from finding a class with a trained instructor, it’s simple and straightforward. It’s not a cardio-vascular workout and you won’t get very sweaty, so it’s practical if you need to fit a class in before work or in your lunch hour.  Pilates gives you long, lean muscles, rather than ‘bulking out’.

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