What is Pilates?

Even though this exercise trend will be a centurion in just a couple years, most people still don’t know what it’s all about. The main question that I get asked about Pilates is “Is it like Yoga and stretching?” No, it’s not Yoga, and they have very little in common.

Pilates has come a long way in the last 50 years. It started by being a means of conditioning for a very small group of people (dancers primarily in New York), gradually progressed through the years and exploded as an exercise trend in the 90s. Today true Pilates is more than just a group class at your local gym, it’s an elite form of body conditioning that develops a smart body and effective movement patterns.

As constant and reliable as the beating of our hearts, our breath sustains us without effort or thought. In this moment, as you read this, you’re breathing in, breathing out, rhythmically feeding the body oxygen to keep your body alive, healthy and well.

It may surprise you that something as simple and natural as improved breathing could dramatically improve your health but it’s true. We all know that breath is essential to our survival, but did you know that focusing on your breath can be a vehicle to wellness, health and rejuvenation?