What Is Pilates?
Joseph Pilates developed his method in the early 20th century, also in response to his own childhood frailty, and brought it to New York in the 1920s, where dancers adopted it for conditioning and rehabilitation.
The system of Pilates, originally called Contrology, is practiced on the mat, using body weight and small props, and on equipment built around adjustable spring resistance: the Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, and Barrel. Six principles anchor the work: centering, concentration, control, precision, breath, and flow. Every exercise begins from the deep abdominal and pelvic floor musculature, what we think of as the “core”.
Movement quality is stabilizing and deliberate. Many exercises hold the pelvis and rib cage still while the limbs load the center, and progression comes through complexity including added range, added resistance, or reduced support. Fewer repetitions done with load and good form is the key to progression. Consistency matters, because the same exercises performed cleanly is how the pattern becomes automatic and new, more complex exercises are introduced.
Pilates at MOVE includes private and duet sessions, small-group Reformer classes, mat classes, and livestream and on-demand options.
