What is Pilates? (Pea-lah-tease)

Pilates is based on the work of Joseph Pilates who began to develop his method around the time of the First World War before opening a studio in New York in the 1920s. His studio soon attracted the city's dancers, actors and athletes who found that his exercises perfected and completed their traditional programme.

Pilates is a body conditioning method that works in a different way to other fitness techniques. Targeting the deep postural muscles, it works by building strength from the inside out, rebalancing the body and bringing it into correct alignment. It helps to reshape your body which also improves your posture, achieving balance between strength and flexibility, and is a great way to relieve unwanted stress and tension.

Pilates offers both mental and physical training. The slow controlled approach means that it gives long term results. The core of Pilates is ‘awareness of your own body’ and each and every exercise is built around its eight key principles:

Relaxation   Breathing   Concentration   Flowing movements                Alignment   Co-ordination   Centring   Stamina