What is Pilates?

Pilates is a type of low impact exercise that strengthens your muscles while improving your posture and flexibility. The exercises are performed with an emphasis on precise technique and control and using breathing to centre the mind.

Pilates classes can be mat-based, using only the body for resistance or employing equipment such as the Pilates Reformer (a sliding platform with springs and pulleys that allows for a variety of different resistance exercises).

Other Pilates equipment used in more advanced classes can include the Wunda (a low padded chair), the Cadillac (a bed-like structure), the spine corrector, the high chair and the Magic Circle (a ring used between the legs).

Bailey Fitness offer Pilates in Morley, Baldivis and Southern River.

What it’s based on

Pilates was created by Joseph Pilates almost a century ago to help rehabilitate injured soldiers from the 1^st World War. Over the years, it was then used for the strengthening and conditioning of athletes and dancers and became a popular form of exercise in New York in the 1960s. Today, Pilates is widely practised around the world, using a variety of styles from classic to contemporary.

What it involves

A typical Pilates workout is 60 minutes long and is about breathing and control rather than performing reps to achieve muscle exhaustion. Rather than working up a sweat, a Pilates session consists of various exercise sequences performed in low repetitions (5 to 10 times), using intense concentration to ensure that each is done correctly.

Although there are around 500 different Pilates exercises in all, common ones you may experience during a typical class can include the Hundred (a breathing exercise), the Roll Up (stretching), leg circles (strengthening), rolling like a ball (massaging) and the Series of 5 (five different strengthening moves).

The benefits of Pilates

Whether performed on a mat or with a machine, Pilates offers a range of health benefits including;

• Sculpts your body – sculpts, tones and reshapes your whole body including firming and lifting your buttocks, toning your inner thighs and defining your arms.
• Strengthens your core – isolates the deep core muscles, strengthening and conditioning abs and obliques and the muscles in the mid-back, lower back, spine, chest and glutes.
• Improves your posture – trains your body to seek alignment, which improves balance and symmetry and develops strong posture.
• Increases your flexibility – encourages a full range of motion which can boost flexibility and joint mobility.
• Improves your breathing – increases your lung capacity and circulation through deep breathing.
• Instils well being – because Pilates aligns the mind and body, you leave class feeling strong, energised and empowered.
• Low impact exercise – because you are engaging your muscles in a strong but gentle way, Pilates is suitable for all ages and fitness levels.

It’s important to remember that Pilates is not an aerobic workout, so if you want to burn calories as well, you’ll need to take Pilates in conjunction with a regular cardio class.

Why Pilates works

The reason why Pilates has been so popular for so long is because it works. And the reason it works is because it is a total body workout. Unlike some forms of exercise which over-develop some body parts and neglect others, Pilates focuses on the body as an integrated whole, including the breath and the mind.

This makes it a great foundation for a variety of exercise scenarios including physio rehabilitation for the ill and injured, training for elite athletes, fitness for the elderly and more. Its integrative body/mind approach makes it accessible to anyone and beneficial for everyone.

Where you can try Pilates

If you’d like to try Pilates in Perth, we hold 60 minute classes at all three of our gyms, with Pilates classes at Morley for those in the northern suburbs and classes at both Southern River and Baldivis for those in the south. To find out more, contact Bailey Fitness at any of our locations.

We also run yoga classes and Les Mills body balance classes – why not try all 3?