FITNESS: PILATES
New equipment can keep pilates fresh, as well as enabling instructors to push the boundaries and help more people
GLENN WITHERS AUSTRALIAN PHYSIOTHERAPY AND PILATES INSTITUTE (APPI) HEALTHGROUP
Q
uest ions have been asked by
the public and the media about the validity and evidence behind pilates and I believe the profes- sion has to become more accountable. Pilates eff ectively has two arms now
– rehab and fi tness – and we must pro- vide more evidence of the benefi ts in both arenas. Training must also be delivered at an exceptional standard to guarantee professionalism. T e evolution of pilates to embrace
rehab is in line with Joseph Pilates’ original message. Analysing his 1947 book, Return to Life Through Con- trology, the message is about making permanent life changes. T at’s been lost along the way, in favour of trying to fi nd the perfect pilates body and per- fecting a person’s movement on a mat. T e real challenge should be linking pilates exercises to functional change
– a means of chronic pain medicine. T at’s what our method is all about, and rather than digressing from Joe’s vision, it’s in fact very closely aligned – just with a lot more evidence. How does this translate to fi tness
centres in spas? Trainers need to ensure that they’re adequately trained, and also that they focus on what guests/ clients take away from the sessions, not just what they do in the sessions. Popu- lation- or age-specifi c classes designed to change lifestyle are also an option. Of course, pilates is also a tech-
nique that defi nes and shapes the body, and this does not necessarily need to change. It just needs to be applied by suitably trained professionals. Withers is physiotherapist and found-
ing director for APPI. APPI is a provider of private healthcare and education in the UK. It developed its rehabilitation-based pilates programme over 10 years ago. Details:
www.appihealthgroup.com
KEVIN BOWEN PEAK PILATES C
ontrology – or, as we now refer to it, the pilates method – has been the
subject of much discussion for years. T ere are those who claim that, if it’s not taught exactly as Joe taught it, then it’s not pilates; others feel that, if Joe were still alive, he would have evolved his teaching and technique. Pilates has three guiding principles:
whole body health, whole body commit- ment and breath. T ese principles – along with movement principles such as balanced muscle development, concentration, control, centering and precision – all work together to produce the goals and benefi ts of the pilates method: benefi ts such as improved co-ordination, strength, mobility, posture and quality of life. T e pilates method off ers health for life. In my opinion, it therefore
laid the foundation for the func- tional fi tness craze of today. Pilates participation has grown
exponentially and internationally it’s still experiencing strong growth. However, that growth seems to be
levelling off in the US. New fi tness crazes that have rallied behind the success of pilates, using pilates terminology and references, may be diluting the message and importance. Fitness facilities would be best served by maintaining a strong commitment to pilates, with well-trained instructors who understand the depth and breadth of the method and who can champion long-term participation. Bowen is director of education at Peak Pilates,
USA, which provides turnkey solutions for the fi tness, spa and rehabilitation sectors. It is com- mitted to preserving the original Joseph Pilates method. Details:
www.peakpilates.com
“The pilates profession has to become more accountable, whether in the area of rehab or fi tness,” says Withers
NIKKI CHRYSOSTOMOU TRANQUILITY PILATES STUDIO T
he future of pilates is bright. Through inno- vation and experience,
the pilates method and associated studio equipment has evolved to a higher level, incorporating sci- entifi c research and refi ned engineering techniques while adhering closely to Joseph Pilates’ original principles. Pilates is always evolving. Rings, rollers,
bands and small balls have been around for years, and now new tools such as the Arc [a semi-circle shaped barrel with handles], Orbit [a padded board on wheels] and CoreAlign mean instructors can push the boundaries of where pilates can go and who it can benefi t.
88 Read Spa Business online
spabusiness.com / digital While the pilates community
has become somewhat fractured over the years, it can unite and strengthen going forward around the twin themes of instructor excel- lence and client focus. By setting
the highest standards in instructor train- ing, equipment and continuing professional development, we will make our instructors the best they can be, which will enable them to carry pilates forward in order to enthuse and help more people. Chrysostomou is the founder of Tran-
quility, a London-based pilates studio which also acts as a teacher training centre. Details:
www.tran-quility.co.uk
SPA BUSINESS 1 2012 ©Cybertrek 2012
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