The History of Pilates

It all begun with Joseph Pilates born in Germany in 1880, the German creator of this group of exercises. Surprisingly, he was weak as a child as he suffered from illnesses such as rickets, asthma, and even rheumatic fever. When he became a teenager, he decided to conquer these illnesses by engaging in body building and sports such as diving, skiing, and gymnastics. He developed a system of exercises during the first half of the 20th century which were intended to strengthen the human mind and body. Joseph Pilates believed that mental and physical health are inter-related.

He had practiced many of the physical training regimes which were available in Germany in his youth, and it was out of this context that he developed his own work, which has clear connections with the physical culture of the late nineteenth century such as the use of specially invented apparatuses and the claim that the exercises could cure illness. It is also related to the tradition of "corrective exercise" or "medical gymnastics" which is typified by Pehr Henrik Ling. Joseph Pilates initially termed his new method, Contrology because he believed in using the mind to control the muscles of the body.

He first did this by rigging springs to hospital beds allowing bedridden patients to work against resistance hence, exercising their target muscles. This innovation was the basis for his early equipment designs and later to be called Pilates machines. At the outbreak of the influenza crisis of 1918 in England, it resulted in the deaths of thousands but not one of his previous patients and clients succumbed to one of the world's worst epidemics. This, he claimed to be proof that his new system worked.

While not that many years ago Pilates was little known, it is now a household name. It seems that everyone has now heard of Pilates. Part of this popularity comes from Hollywood stars using this method to keep in shape. When you watch the celebrity news nowadays, many times the stars workout methods are outlined and Pilates is near or at the top of the list.

One of the things that make Pilates so great is that the movements and exercises you do seek to give you strength and flexibility, but not to build any serious amount of bulk to your frame. Pilates at Pulse gym at the Athenaeum Spa in Malta is not about building muscle, it is about working with your body and not against it. You need to be able to take what you have been given and make that work for you before attempting anything else and that is the philosophy that Pilates was founded on.

You can learn more about Pilates at Pulse gym at the Athenaeum Spa in Malta and you will find that it is designed for each person's body. Pilates will align your bones through a series of movements and this will allow your body to work with less strain thanks to the activity of exercise you are achieving.

Pilates appeals to a number of people. It doesn't matter what type of person you are or what level of training your body is at. Pilates at Pulse gym at the Athenaeum Spa in Malta can help you improve your body's natural functioning as well as help boost confidence and your mental well being.