Pilates

Today I'm into Pilates.

Here are some sites you can see if you would like to learn more. If you can post any tips concerning education and knowledge exchange in direct link to the original teaching as presented by Josheph Pilates.

To my knowledge there is a direct linkage from 'Joe' as his New York students came to get to know him during his stay in the U.S.A.. Read more on the sites as mentioned.

In New York: Romana Kryzanowska was a direct linage for me to Brooke Siler and to Marjorie Oron. I had and have the pleasure and honour to have been doing 'Jazz Pilates" with them. Intuitive, allligned, controlled, through routines, connecting series through the motions, discovering the system and it's posibilities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Quote:
I must be right. Never an aspirin. Never injured a day in my life. The whole country, the whole world, should be doing my exercises. They'd be happier."
- Joseph Hubertus Pilates, in 1965, age 86
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read the book 1 Return to life through contrology
and Book 2 Pilates' Your Health
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Article:

(Sic) This is what I found on one of the sites available throug any search engine.

By doing Pilates this can happen: " x"

x Go beyond survival, develop empowering
strategies for life!

We all have a radiant light that resides deep within us. It is our gift from the higher source.
It ties us to all things both earthly as well as celestial.
It has been forever and will be forever.
It is patiently waiting for you to invite it to shine.
I encourage you to allow yourself to experience life through the inside out.
Your light is unique and brilliant and as your light grows so does the light of all other beings.
This is your workshop. Use it to explore your thoughts.
Use it to rediscover your dreams. Use it to ignite the light.
You have the strength and beauty of all creation within you.
You have the power to realize your dreams.
You have the ability to sore far beyond the limits of your mind to the omnipotence of your soul.
It is within you; it is with all of us.
May you find your light and may it engulf you so that your life's work
is weaved into the tapestry of souls that take humanity to higher levels of understanding.
(excerpt from course journal)

The Kadan Women’s Empowerment©
Weekend is a truly unique experience. Its’ integrated approach focuses on developing the power from the inside—out.

You will practice and understand hands-on self- defense techniques, learn why many women become victims of violent crime, create personal strategies for developing your inner strength and learn how to incorporate your since of power into everyday living. degree Black Belt Pilates Instructor National Children’s Health Advocate,
Founder Kadan Women’s Empowerment, Expert Speaker/Workshop facilitator on Personal Safety & Empowerment.

Long Beach Dance Conditioning

(sounds good to me sic.)


Shapeshift Pilates Studio, Redondo Beach Shapeshift Pilates Studio, Palos Verdes
Contact: Nancy Contact: Charlotte Phone: 310-544-4355:
Phone: 310-543-2327
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WEBSITES:
USA & Info

www.romanaspilates.com
www.pilates.com/BBAPP/V/studio-furnishings/pilates-pictures.html
www.pilates-studio.com/
www.pilatesmethodalliance.org/whatis.html
wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilates
http://www.lycos.com/info/pilates--joseph-pilates.html
www.hermit.com/

Nederland: www.pilates.nl
France: www.studiopilatesdeparis.com
Brasil:www.pilates.com.br
Argentina: Tamara di Tella
www.pilatesbuenosaires.com.ar
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Start of Quotes from Pilates 's Books

"Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness. Our interpretation of physical fitness is the attainment and maintenance of a uniformly developed body with a sound mind fully capable of naturally, easily, and satisfactorily performing our many and varied daily tasks with spontaneous zest and pleasure."


"As the spring freshets born of the heavy rains and vast masses of melting snows on mountains in the hinterlands cause rivers to swell and rush turbulently onward to the sea, so too will your blood flow with renewed vigor as the direct result of your faithfully performing the Contrology exercises. These exercises induce the heart to pump strong and steadily with the result that the bloodstream is forced to carry and discharge more and more of the accumulated debris created by fatigue. Contrology exercises drive the pure fresh blood to every muscle fibre of our bodies, particularly to the very important capillaries which ordinarily are rarely ever fully stimulated once we have reached adulthood."


"The acquirement and enjoyment of physical well-being, mental calm and spiritual peace are priceless to their possessors if there be any such so fortunate living among us today. However, it is the ideal to strive for, and in our opinion, it is only through Contrology that this unique trinity of a balanced body, mind, and spirit can ever be attained."


"...What is balance of body and mind?
It is the conscious control of all muscular movements of the body. It is the correct utilization and application of the leverage principles afforded by the bones comprising the skeletal framework of the body, a complete knowledge of the mechanism of the body, and a full understanding of the principles of equilibrium and gravity as applied to the movements of the body in motion, at rest and in sleep."


"...Man should bear in mind and ponder over the Greek admonition - Not Too Much, Not Too Little."


"The first lesson is that of correct breathing.
Children must be taught how to take long, deep breaths, sufficient to expand the upper chest to capacity. They must be properly instructed how to draw the abdomen in and out at the same time holding their breath for a short time. Then they should also learn how properly to fully deflate the lungs in exhaling."

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What does "Mind/Body" actually mean?

This question is best answered by one of Joseph Pilates favorite quotes from
Schiller - "It is the mind itself which builds the body".

Pilates formulated 6 basic principles for his exercise technique:

1. Breathing - The pattern of breathing is connected with the pattern of movement. It ensures a free flow of cleansing oxygen throughout the body, improves circulation and helps to avoid unnecessary tension in the muscles.

2. Precision - The Method emphasizes quality of movement over quantity.

3. Centering - Centering refers to the practice of initiating and controlling movement from the center or "Powerhouse" - abs, buttocks and back muscles. This concept lies at the heart of Pilates work.

4. Flowing - Movement In combination with deep and relaxed breathing, the flowing movements in Pilates reduce stress on the body and the risk of injury.

5. Control - Control is vital! Momentum has no place in this method of training.

6. Concentration - In Pilates, the mind and the body work as a team. Every exercise requires your full attention. Observe your body as it works, think about each stage of movement.

BPCFCC Article as found on: www.johngareypilates.com/pilates.html
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Exercise Innovator Joseph Pilates
His Determination To Heal Helped Millions Achieve Better Health
By Kathryn Linderman
Investor’s Business Daily

Joseph Hubertus Pilates watched wistfully as other children played outside, running and laughing. A frail child plagued by
rickets, asthma and rheumatic fever, the boy yearned for a healthy, strong, physically attractive body.
There had to be a way to overcome his weaknesses, thought Pilates (pronounced Puh-lah-tes), a native of Dusseldorf,
Germany. The more he thought, the more determined he grew. He’d already survived diseases fatal to thousands each year; he could find a way to get stronger. That determination spurred Pilates (1880-1967) to devise a movement therapy that has helped numerous people achieve better heath. Known as the Pilates Method, the series of more than 500 exercises was designed by the once sickly boy to strengthen and elongate muscles without adding bulk.
Dancers, athletes, physical therapy patients and fitness buffs have relied on the method for more than 50 years to attain and
stay in top form. Not yet a teen, Pilates began researching many types of exercise to aid in his strength-training program. He sent for books and haunted the university libraries in Dusseldorf. He studied yoga, Zen meditation and several ancient Greek and Roman exercise regimens. He studied anatomy, hoping to find a way to combine these disciplines to improve his health. He took copious notes. At home, Pilates tried each exercise he read about. He kept records of the effect of each movement to chart his progress. By the time he was 14 years old, Pilates had strengthened
himself enough to become an accomplished skin diver, gymnast and skier. He believed fervently in the Roman motto “Mens sana in corpore sano,” or, “A sound mind in a sound body.” Reveling in his strength, he sought a career that would let him
use his body. In 1912, he left Germany to train as a boxer in England. While there, he trained detectives in the art of self-
defense, and he worked in a circus. But as a German national in England at the outbreak of World
War I, Pilates was incarcerated as an “enemy alien” in Lancaster. Even prison didn’t stem his enthusiasm for good health.
Wanting others to feel as great as he did, Pilates taught his fellow inmates his exercises.
His efforts were credited with helping many of them maintain their health through the deadly influenza epidemic of 1918.
Seeing his passion for health, authorities sent Pilates to the Isle of Man to work as a nurse and care for patients immobilized by war injuries. Pilates knew exercise had helped him and believed it would
help his new patients. But most couldn’t stand or even sit up to do the exercises.

bedsprings from beneath the beds and attached them to the walls
at or above bed level. Using straps on their arms or legs, patients
could lie in bed and push or pull the springs, exercising against
the coils’ resistance. Doctors noticed that Pilates’ efforts with the
patients improved their recovery considerably. Fueled by hope, Pilates began fitting all the hospital beds to
help rehabilitate as many wounded soldiers as he could. Pilates had noticed that as more people moved into cities to take
factory jobs, they became less accustomed to fresh air and regular exercise. They seemed to become fatigued and stressed more quickly. He felt his method could help people revitalize themselves.
Experimenting with his patients and on his own, Pilates devised a series of controlled exercises that engaged both mind and body. The resulting 500 exercises focused on developing “core” muscles of the abdomen and increasing flexibility in the arms, legs, and supporting muscle groups. Watching patients carefully, Pilates saw them become more active and alert.
He called his new regimen “Contrology.” In the 1945 book he wrote with William John Miller, “Return to Life Through
Contrology,” Pilates defines the term as “complete coordination of body, mind and spirit.”
Pilates believed firmly in the power of positive thought. “Ideally, our muscles should obey our will,” he said. “Reasonably, our will should not be dominated by the reflex actions of our muscles.”
He also believed in moderation. “Never do 10 pounds of effort for a 5-pound movement,” he said. His regimen stressed quality of movement over quantity of repetitions and resulted in a body that was strong and sleek with a
natural grace. Shortly after World War I, Pilates returned home to Germany to perfect his regimen. But the German government wanted him to train the new German army. Pilates wanted to heal, not train others to harm. So in 1926, he
packed his bags and left for the U.S. On the ship, he met Clara, a nurse, who later became his wife and life-long professional
partner. He had a clear goal—to share his method and help others. Although he didn’t know how to find clients, Pilates knew who they were—people who had a similarly strong interest in strength and good health. In New York, he’d have ready-made clients— dancers.
He and Clara looked for a small space near the dance district in which to teach his method. Using his savings, Pilates opened the first Pilates Studio at 939 Eighth Ave. in New York. To garner those first clients, he went to dance classes and left
cards. He’d start talking to dancers on the street. Pilates’ commitment got him noticed. He began working with
the dancers of the New York City Ballet under George Balanchine. Dance legends Hanya Holm and Martha Graham
became devotees. Athletes and performers followed. Dance magazine in its February 1956 issue reported: “At some
time or other virtually every dancer in New York...has meekly submitted to the spirited instruction of Joe Pilates.”
To show the effects of the training, Pilates became one of the first to use outcome studies. He’d take pictures of clients when
they began a training program. Then several weeks later, he’d take “after” photographs to show results.
Pilates continued to develop his technique and teach in his studio until his death in 1967.
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