In honor of National Pilates Day (the first Saturday of May) I am sharing a run down of Pilates facts here with you. Hopefully, whether you are familiar with Pilates or not, a better understanding of what it's all about. Although I am guilty of telling people that it is similar to yoga, it is not in any way a form of yoga. Pilates is its own system of exercises with many modifications or progressions to meet you where you are at any fitness level. It is a full body workout that both strengthens and stretches simultaneously while deeply working the core.
1) Pilates was founded by Joseph H. Pilates during the 1920's.
2) Pilates was originally called Contrology because control was such a big fundamental element of the system. You control your mind, body and movement.
3) Pilates can be done on a mat or using different apparatus such as the Reformer, Cadillac, High Chair, Wunda Chair and Ped-a-Pull. Mat Pilates is resistance training using your own body weight. Pilates done on the different apparatus uses springs for some additional resistance or to feel the exercises in a different way.
4) Joseph Pilates created the first "magic circle" out of the wire bands from beer kegs.
5) Joseph Pilates opened his first Pilates studio in New York City.
6) Great dancers such as Martha Graham and George Balanchine have studied this system with Joseph Pilates, himself.
8) Actress and founder of Fabletics, Kate Hudson practices Pilates daily.
7) Pilates is not just for dancers and females. Many male athletes such as Tiger Woods and Jason Kidd have used Pilates as another form of athletic training.
8) The six key principles of Pilates are: Centering, Concentration, Control, Breathe, Flow and Precision.
