pilates
KEN ENDELMAN CEO and founder Balanced Body
particular approach. One side feels the original measurements and designs that Joseph Pilates made on his first-generation equipment were done for a reason and should be kept that way. The other thinks combining a current understanding of human biomechanics with the pilates principles is best. The simple truth is that they’re both right. There’s merit on
W
both sides. The important thing is how the exercise makes you feel: the end result should be experiencing the great ‘mindful movement’ benefi ts of a strong core and increased fl exibility that pilates provides. That’s what Joseph Pilates wanted, so if one approach really resonates over the other for you, that’s fi ne. It’s why we carry lines of equipment for both. As far as the future goes, we really see a ‘mindful
movement’ fi tness revolution approaching, with pilates as a central player. With the continued ageing of the affl uent Baby Boomer demographic, and uncertainty in healthcare reform, people are taking their health into their own hands. But many can’t take the pounding of weight-bearing exercise any more. It’s a perfect opportunity and we’re seeing fi tness
ALYSON TANNER Chair Pilates Foundation
L
ike most exercise systems, pilates has changed as scientific knowledge about our bodies has grown. In fact, even Joe Pilates’ own practice changed over time. The Pilates Foundation has developed an evolutionary
approach to Joe’s work. We teach the classic repertoire that Joe would recognise, but realise that most of our clients need to work through some evolved, adjusted exercises before they get there. The principles of his philosophy are central to understanding how the exercises should be taught, but we draw on modern thinking to adjust the exercises to make them accessible to almost every student. As scientific knowledge increases, there will be new
trends and directions in pilates. The beauty of pilates is that the fundamentals can be adapted and refined, learning from other movement regimes to develop exercise variations and approaches suitable for each individual body. Commercial pressures are also important. Studio classes
of one or two people using expensive equipment are fantastic, but the benefits are only available to a privileged few; matwork classes have brought the benefits of pilates to many more people. In the future, health clubs are likely to invest in pilates equipment for group classes, providing the benefits of resistance work while still being commercially viable. Manufacturers are stepping up to the challenge by designing equipment that can be stacked and stored away.
44
hat you’re calling ‘pure versus applied’ pilates, we call ‘classical versus contemporary’, and many people in both camps feel very strongly about their
Equipment such as the CoreAlign can, says Endelman, make for unique group programming options
facilities come up with all kinds of incredible programming ideas like combining pilates with cardio equipment or gym props like kettlebells. In addition, we’ve been developing equipment – like our CoreAlign – that, while not pilates per se, combines strength training with a mind-body approach, which makes for a really unique group programming option. Pilates has also really taken off in the world of physiotherapy,
but a word of caution for fi tness facilities: there’s a big difference between pilates for fi tness and pilates for rehabilitation. If clubs are offering any pilates-based rehabilitation services, as opposed to post-rehab, it should be done by someone appropriately trained to handle those specifi c populations.
Commercial requirements: Matwork classes have ‘brought the benefits of pilates to many more people’
Read Health Club Management online at
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital august 2011 © cybertrek 2011
PIC: MISCHA HALLER ON BEHALF OF THE PILATES FOUNDATION
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84