So who was Joseph Pilates? Born in Germany in 1833, Pilates was sick as a child with asthma, rickets, and rheumatic fever. Determined to overcome his weaknesses, he educated himself in anatomy and began bodybuilding and gymnastics. By age 14, he was posing as an anatomy model for doctors because he was such a specimen; every muscle in his body was visible.
Pilates eventually traveled to England where he earned a living as a boxer, a circus performer, and a self-defense trainer. During World War I, the British authorities interned him, along with other German citizens, in a camp. It was here that he began to develop his concept of an integrated system of physical exercise which he called Contrology.
After his release from the camp, Pilates and his wife moved to New York City where they opened a studio teaching his Contrology system which focuses on core postural muscles that help keep the body balanced and provide support for the spine. In particular, Pilates exercises teach awareness of breath and of alignment of the spine, and strengthen the deep torso and abdominal muscles.
Pilates on the Reformer is an exercise system that reconnects us to human movement as a means to undo the damage caused by physical imbalances, sedentary lifestyles, improper body mechanics, sports injuries, and other health issues.
The reformer is an apparatus that looks like an elevated bed structure with a sliding platform. It allows the body to work against resistance using springs. The Reformer eliminates the effect of gravity on your joints so the muscles can be isolated to gain strength and flexibility without pain in the back, knees, hips, shoulders, and joints.
The exercise regimen takes about an hour and is beneficial for improving cardio health, balance, strength, flexibility, mental clarity, circulation, breathing issues, and organ function. Resistance training is also proven to speed up metabolism, reverse osteoporosis, and eliminate back pain. Research verifies Joseph Pilates’ assumption: new movement patterns become a habit faster because resistance encourages a quicker adaption in the neuromuscular system.
I have experienced the effects of Pilates Reformer training myself. All my life, I was an athlete. After giving birth to our first child in 1997, I began to experience unbearable back and joint pain due to arthritis and several sports injuries. It was pain no doctor could fix until I tried Pilates. I experienced immediate relief. Pilates really works and I am living proof.
Ainslie McLean is the owner of Reformu, a Pilates Reformer studio at 5299 Valleydale Road in Birmingham.
