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Pilates

Background

Joseph Pilates developed "contrology," now called "Pilates," in the early 20th century. Joe became fascinated by human movement from a young age, and his background as a gymnast, bodybuilder, circus performer, and martial artist heavily influenced his approach to fitness. Before immigrating to the United States in 1925, he began developing his own exercise methodology, which he named "contrology." Initially, he used this system to help rehabilitate WWI veterans, famously repurposing hospital beds to create the foundation for what later became Pilates equipment like the Reformer and Cadillac.

After immigrating to New York City in 1925, Pilates opened his iconic studio, where his method became popular among performing artists and dancers, most notably Martha Graham and George Balanchine. His unique equipment and exercise principles—centered around control, precision, and core strength—quickly garnered attention. Over time, Pilates’ method became a cornerstone of not only dance conditioning but also rehabilitation and modern fitness, focusing on posture, flexibility, and balance. Today, Pilates is practiced worldwide, with both classical and contemporary styles, and remains a powerful tool for athletes, physical therapy patients, and fitness enthusiasts alike.

Core Principles of Pilates

Concentration:Mindful movement and attention to the body.

Control: Every movement should be done with control rather than momentum.

Centering: Engaging the core as the body’s center of strength.

Flow: Smooth and graceful movements.

Precision: Focus on performing exercises correctly for maximum benefit.

Breath:Breathing is coordinated with movement to maximize control and efficiency.

What makes pilates unique?

Variable Resistance(Pilates Springs)

Concentric and Eccentric Resistance

Focus on Stability Muscles and Coordination

What makes our pilates style unique?

Our Pilates style is rooted in contemporary practice, continuously evolving to incorporate the latest in exercise science and training principles. We draw from our expertise in corrective exercise, senior fitness, and NASM’s Optimal Performance Training (OPT) model, ensuring that every session is tailored to meet the individual needs of our clients. While we embrace modern training techniques, we remain dedicated to the core principles of Pilates—focusing on control, precision, and mindful movement. This unique blend allows us to offer a well-rounded, science-based approach to Pilates that enhances strength, mobility, and overall performance.

Pilates Strengths

Pilates excels in core strengthening, flexibility, injury prevention, and body awareness, with a focus on low-impact, full-body integration. Pilates also excels at strengthening stability muscles.

Considerations for Pilates

While Pilates offers numerous benefits, such as core stability, flexibility, and controlled movement, it may not emphasize cardiovascular conditioning or maximal strength and hypertrophy to the same degree as other training methods. When focusing primarily on equipment-based exercises, there can be limitations in addressing certain functional movement patterns. In some cases, equipment may require extensive modifications to suit individual needs, where a more efficient alternative might be possible through other modalities. Additionally, while Pilates equipment provides excellent support and resistance, many exercises are performed in lying or seated positions, which may not fully replicate real-life, functional movements. Incorporating personal training can help bridge this gap, offering a more well-rounded approach to fitness.

Our Equipment

Balanced Body Reformers with towers

Balanced Body Wunda Chair

Spine Corrector