Reformer and Pilates Matwork
Pilates is a mind/body concept developed over 80 years ago. Pilates has been used for health, fitness, rehabilitation and prevention of injuries for years.
| Benefits of Pilates Training? | |
| Strengthens the core |  |
| Tones and strengthens the full body | |
| Lengthens tight muscles | |
| Improves posture | |
| Strengthens the back and helps prevent injuries | |
| Improves body awarness | |
| Improved sports performance | |
| Better quality of life | |
Pilates was designed by Joseph Pilates, a gymnast and boxer born in Germany of Greek ancestry. He designed a system of exercises called Contrology during the First World War with the proposal to improve the rehabilitation program for the many returning veterans. Joseph Pilates believed that mental and physical health are inter-related. He recommended a few precise movements emphasizing control and form to aid injured soldiers in regaining their health by strengthening, stretching, and stabilizing key muscles. Pilates created "The Pilates Principles" to condition the entire body: proper alignment, centering, concentration, control, precision, breathing, and flowing movement.
Joseph Pilates wrote two books related to the Pilates method: Return to Life through Contrology (1928) and Your Health: A Corrective System of Exercising That Revolutionizes the Entire Field of Physical Education (1934).
Pilates is suitable for almost eberybody, regardless of age or fitness level. However if you are using it for rehabilitation from an injury, you must have permission from your therapist or G.P. to take part.
Matwork is performed on an exercise mat just using your body and gravity. Or you can add some small equipment like a gym ball, theraband, foam roller or isotoner to assist or challange the movements.
Pilates apparatus are pieces of equipment designed by Joseph Pilates. The Reformer is a bed about 12 inches off the ground. It has a sliding bed that you lie on with springs and pulleys attached for you to do a variety of movements for an all over body workout.
The Wunda chair is like a chair with a moving step. There are springs attached to the step, again where you can perfrom a variety of movements for the core, upper and lower body.
The spine corrector is a half barrell that you lie across in any position and exercise the core and full body. At the same time you can moblise the spine.
The wall unit is attached to the Reformer. This has different positions for you to attach springs to and increase the number of exercises that all work your core, arms and legs.
If you are interested in doing Pilates matwork or Pilates on the apparatus (Reformer, Wall unit, Wunda Chair or Spine corrector) contact us.