what is pilates FAQ
1. What are the origins of Pilates ?
Pilates is a physical fitness regime devised by Joseph Pilates in the first half of the 20th century. Joseph Pilates was born in 1883 in Germany. He was frail and sick as a child suffering from Asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever. He mastered many sports including bodybuilding, gymnastics, skiing, diving and was an anatomy model at aged 14yrs. He travelled to England in 1912 and worked as a self-defence instructor for Scotland Yard. At the onset of World War 1 Joe was interred with other German nationals in a concentration camp. While interred he trained other inmates in his system of exercise. He rigged springs to hospital beds and enabled bedridden patients to exercise against the spring’s resistance. This research later led to the development of the Trapeze Table and his other studio equipment. In 1918, an influenza epidemic struck England killing thousands of people, though not one of Joe’s trainees died. Joe claimed this affirmed the effectiveness of his exercise system. After his release from the concentration camp, Joe returned to Germany. His exercise method became very popular throughout the dance community. Joe immigrated to the United States in 1923. On his voyage, he met Clara, who he later married. Together they opened a Fitness Studio in New York sharing an address with the New York City Ballet working primarily with ballet dancers. He named his exercise regime, 'Contrology'. In 1967 he passed away leaving a legacy of better health and wellness, truly fifty years ahead of his time.
2. How will doing Pilates benefit me ?
Pilates strengthens & tones your entire body. The exercise method creates long lean muscles without placing pressure on the joints. Pilates improves core stability, body awareness, posture and flexibility for your whole body. There is an emphasis on quality and efficiency of movement, leaving the body feeling focused, energized and relaxed. Exercises are performed on specially designed equipment or on mats on the floor. Pilates is suitable for men & women of all ages, including all fitness levels and abilities.
Pilates is particularly beneficial for anyone requiring specialised rehabilitation.
“Pilates develops the body uniformly, corrects wrong postures, restores physical vitality, invigorates the mind and elevates the Spirit” Joseph Pilates
3. Who is Pilates particularly suited to ?
The middle-aged and elderly
The desk-bound and inactive
The pre and post-natal
Those needing pre and post-operative strengthening
Those referred by their doctor, physiotherapist, osteopath, chiropractor
and for those who suffer from :
Back pain, back-ache and other back problems
Scoliosis or curvature of the spine
Poor posture and rounded shoulders
Neck and shoulder pains and problems
Stiffness, joint pains and muscle pains, whether caused by arthritis, osteoarthritis or Fibromyalgia
Injuries, sports injuries
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Whiplash
Stress & anxiety
4. What are some of the key benefits of Pilates ?
Improves body posture & alignment
Strengthens core muscles giving a stronger back & flatter stomach
Improves core stability
Increases your body awareness
Improves flexibility
Improves general fitness level
Reduces pain, tension & stress
Helps correct muscle imbalances
Can creates an evenly conditioned body, with stronger leaner muscles
Improves sports performance & injury prevention
Efficiency of movement
Low impact & supportive
Beneficial for both mind & body
Exercises can be modified and performed with existing injuries enabling faster rehabilitation
5. I have back pain can Pilates help me with this ?
Yes! Absolutely, This is a very common reason why our clients start doing Pilates. We have Clients with back pain ranging from mild to severe. Over the past 24 Years of teaching Pilates, we have helped many people who have suffered from long term back pain. We also help those who get back pain only occasionally. For best results, we recommend starting with our Equipment Pilates for anyone with pain or existing injuries.
6. How many classes should I do per week ?
Ideally, for the best results, we recommend 2-3 times per week to receive the maximum benefit from your Pilates classes. You will start to see and feel the benefits quite quickly. It depends on your work schedules, availability and budget.
7. Can I do Pilates if I have existing injuries ?
Yes, Absolutely, rehabilitation is our speciality. One of the key benefits of Pilates is being able to do Pilates with existing injuries. All of our Instructors are expertly trained specifically in rehabilitation. Exercises are chosen or modified to accommodate your existing injuries. Please bring along all relevant medical referrals and reports from your GP, Physiotherapist or other medical practitioners when starting. This will help us to identify areas and issues we need to be aware of. With all pre-existing medical conditions, we encourage that you obtain independent medical advice from your GP prior to starting any form of exercise program.
8. Can I do Pilates If I am Pregnant ?
Yes, we encourage all of our pregnant clients to continue their Pilates practice as long as they feel well and comfortable to do so during their pregnancy. The positive benefits of both your delivery and post recovery are well documented. All of our Instructors are expertly trained specifically in Pilates for pregnancy. They are aware of all issues and appropriate exercises and positions that are safe for the various stages of your pregnancy. With all pre-existing medical conditions, we encourage that you obtain independent medical advice from your GP prior to starting any form of exercise program.
7. Is Pilates Particularly for women ?
No, far from it, Pilates was invented by a man, Joseph Pilates, originally for his own benefit and was later adapted for women. At QSPS we have many men that enjoy all the benefits that Pilates provides for them.
We have many male clients from diverse backgrounds that have been coming to us regularly for many years. Pilates is practised routinely at the elite sporting level. Sporting coaches and team managers recognise the benefits Pilates provides to their players in many sporting codes including football, rugby, cricket, soccer and golf.
8. When can I expect to see results ?
As Joseph Pilates often said, “In ten sessions you will feel the difference in 20 you will see the difference and in 30 you will have a whole new body”
Most people do start to feel a difference after 10 sessions, you may start to feel that you are walking a bit taller and moving more freely. We find the longer you persist, the more regular you attend you will see and feel the shape of your body change.
“A body free from nervous tension and fatigue is the ideal shelter provided by nature for housing a well-balanced mind, fully capable of successfully meeting all the complex problems of modern living.”
Joseph Pilates
9. I am an older person with mobility restrictions and I experience regular joint and muscle pain, can doing regular Pilates help me?
Yes! Pilates has been proven to help build your overall strength and mobility while also improving your balance and co-ordination which can help prevent falls. Consistency is the key to building better movement patterns. All of our clients are given individualised programs to work on our state of the art equipment which supports and strengthens you at the same time. All of our qualified Instructors can work around your current injuries or mobility issues while also offering rehabilitation for the areas that need extra support and strength.
We offer Australian Govt. Pensioners a huge discount on casual equipment pilates classes that can be purchased in Blocks of 5, 10 or 20 classes. These classes can be purchased in person from one of our reception staff at the front desk. To be eligible for this discount you will need to show your Govt Pension Card when making your purchase.
9. Have more questions ?
Please don't hesitate to get in touch us using our Contact Us page.
Also please check the Getting Started FAQ for additional information.