What is Pilates?

Pilates is a form of exercise that improves core strength and balances the muscles around the joints, improving the way your body functions, looks and feels. It strengthens the whole body, develops flexibility, muscular endurance, coordination, balance, and good posture.

The muscles of the body are conditioned through movements that use gravity, body weight and specially-designed equipment as forms of resistance.

It is taught in group classes or private training sessions, with or without equipment, such as reformers, cadillacs, stability chairs, barrels and fitness circles.

Pilates, originally called Contrology and created by Joseph Pilates, is one of the fastest growing forms of exercise in the world. It was developed from a combination of yoga, gymnastics and martial arts. As Joseph Pilates stated, it “develops the body uniformly, corrects wrong postures, restores physical vitality, invigorates the mind, and elevates the spirit”. The connection between the mind and body is crucial to Pilates.