Pilates takes its name from its founder Joseph Pilates. Born near Dusseldorf in 1880, he was a sickly child who wanted to be stronger and healthier. Along with body building, he began to blend yoga, tai chi, martial arts and meditation while also studying anatomy and animal movements, which resulted in a new approach to exercise and body conditioning.
The Pilates method was brought to the UK by Alan Herdman after he has been asked to investigate Pilates in New York on behalf of the London School of Contemporary Dance in the 1970s. Twenty years later, and I was discovering Pilates for myself when I was training to be a ballet dancer. Back then though, it was all rather boring and centred on the 34 original moves created by Joseph Pilates.
Thankfully, Pilates is no longer boring, but it does still retain the original principles of breath, concentration, control, precision, centre and flow. While Joseph Pilates was a very strict practitioner who liked his classes to be pure to his methodology and perfect practice ideals, modern-day Pilates has been through an evolution, resulting in exercise Pilates, which is not boring!
Modifications have been made to the original Pilates method to create a very effective form of exercise. The strength you can gain is amazing; it really is a full body workout. It’s great for your posture and flexibility too, and we also tap into the parasympathetic nervous system, so you should end a class feeling much calmer.
I begin a class by getting everyone into the perfect Pilates posture to align the breath and the body. It’s actually a really beautiful way of starting a class. I usually have a theme for each class too, such as being kind to yourself, and it sets the tone for the entire hour.
I love the way Pilates asks you to use your breath and to concentrate on your movement. You are really in the moment with nothing to distract you; the mind-muscle connection is very powerful.
Pilates is great if you are carrying an injury as there are all sorts of modifications I can suggest to help. I can also make a Pilates class very challenging or can tone is right down depending on the people attending. There are always options. Then, I walk people through the process of each exercise to make sure they are doing it safely and effectively.
Meanwhile, I have my playlist in the background; I am all about the playlist! It can be yogi, 60s, reggae, top hits…whatever connects with the people I teach.
Pilates really has changed from the boring, methodical class I remember from my dancing days. If anyone has been to any of my other classes, you will know that I don’t do boring! I invite you to give it a go. There are new classes available at the village halls in Chillington, Sherford, and West Charleton along with more established classes in Totnes and West Alvington. Come and see for yourself.