Pilates Exercise System to Promote Back Health
Pilates is an exercise program focusing on the core postural muscles that help keep the body balanced and are essential to supporting the spine. In particular, Pilates exercises teach awareness of neutral alignment of the spine and strengthen the deep postural muscles that support this alignment, which is important to help alleviate and prevent back pain.
The Pilates Exercise Program
Pilates is an exercise system named after its originator, Joseph Pilates. Mr. Pilates developed this system in the early 1900s to improve his health and to support the health of fellow World War I internees. Later, he incorporated the resistance of springs into rehabilitation programs for hospitalized patients and then translated the use of springs into machines and created the unique equipment now used in the exercise system.
Important principles of the Pilates exercise program include:
- Use of mental focus to improve movement efficiency and muscle control
- Awareness of neutral spine alignment, or proper posture, throughout the exercises
- Development of the deep muscles of the back and abdomen to support this posture
- Use of breath to promote mental focusing and centering
- Creating length, strength, and flexibility in muscles
Initially, the Pilates. The exercise program was primarily. used by professional dancers, who appreciated improved strength, balance, and flexibility. In the 1980s Pilates was. Re-discovered and has now become a popular form of exercise for anyone interested in its health benefits.
The exercise system is usually taught in one of two formats:
- Using the unique Pilates equipment in private, or semi-private, sessions
- Group mat classes not using equipment
Pilates Equipment
The Pilates equipment uses the resistance of springs to create effort.
Reformer
Mat Exercises
Usually taught as part of a group class, mat exercises primarily focus on strengthening the muscles of the trunk and hip and increasing the flexibility of both the spine and hips. Though the mat program’s scope is. Limited compared to the machines, many mat exercises demonstrate the Pilates principles.
Lately, Pilates has merged with other movement techniques, such as yoga, or the use of an exercise ball. This promotes creative integration of the Pilates principles into a greater range of exercises in the mat class setting.
This article is written by adyourmassage.com