About Pilates

Pilates is a proven exercise technique, developed over seventy years ago by Joseph Pilates.

For years it has been a well kept secret within the worlds of sport, the performing arts and for the preserve of the rich and famous. Thankfully, Pilates is now more widely available through the Body Control Pilates method.

It is supported by Physiotherapists and Osteopaths and many Doctors are now also recommending it to their patients. Pilates lengthens, strengthens and re-aligns the body by working on key postural muscles.

Pilates History

Pilates relates to a series of some 500 exercises developed over 60 years ago by the German athlete Joseph Pilates. He was a sickly child and devoted his adult life to bodybuilding and fitness exercises. He used disciplines from circus performing, martial arts to dance and even boxing and he had a natural understanding of the human body.

Joseph Pilates was a hospital intern during the war and used his principles to help patients rehabilitate when they had lost limbs. He would remove springs from the beds and make the patients use the springs to strengthen weak muscles. The Reformer and the Cadillac are machines that are used for Pilates and these were designed from his original work with the hospital beds.

After the war he set up a studio in New York and Pilates became popular with Dancers suffering from fatigue and injuries. He had a holistic approach to exercise and was very disciplined. In later years Pilates ‘the method’ went through various adaptations combined with modern physiotherapy and it became popular with the general public. It has evolved even more now and is becoming a very effective and popular method to either be practiced in small classes or on a one to one basis.

There are a few organizations that have set up and put together training facilities for teachers and have a very high standard. Pilates came more into the limelight since the likes of Madonna has started to extol it’s benefits.

Pilates Principles

To practice Pilates, it is necessary to know the importance of understanding the principles and the basics in order for it to be effective. Therefore it is beneficial to either have a few private sessions with a qualified teacher or attend a beginners workshop. Pilates is concerned with the alignment of the spine and good posture and the exercises are designed to work with the hips, knees and shoulders aligned properly.

Pilates teaches you about breathing with movement, body mechanics, co-ordination, strength and flexibility. Therefore as a result the exercises are very precise and when good technique is achieved it will condition the body into moving and looking better. In fact there are numerous benefits including looking longer and leaner! It can improve back problems, stiff shoulders and necks and injuries that are old and cold. It is also good for the mind as it is relaxing and most of the exercises are performed lying on the floor.

Any age or fitness ability can do Pilates and the method can progress to become quite athletic and challenging as the body gets stronger. In the beginning it’s focus is on strengthening the deep core stabilizing muscles around the abdomen and back and correcting poor posture. Once this has been achieved the instructor will progress the client with a programme to suit the individuals needs.

Pilates undoes everything bad that life does to your body and results in a healthy strong and better body.

Pilates Paradise

Tara Nova Bright is trained by The Body Control Pilates Association (BCPA) is Europe's foremost professional Pilates organisation. It was launched in February 1997 as a successor organisation to The Association of Pilates Teachers, which had been in existence since 1993. The BCPA currently comprises 1,000 teaching members in the UK and abroad. It is a non-profit making body. .