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 I
am registered as a Level 3 Member of the Register of Exercise
Professionals |
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About
the Pilates Centre |
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Julie Baker is a Pilates Teacher trained
at the world renowned Pilates Institute in London. She now runs
the Pilates Centre in and around Sittingbourne, in Kent. |
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Pilates is a fitness method that is changing
the approach to fitness for many people. |
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No longer do you need to spend hours building
up a sweat to tighten up those muscles and become leaner, but
by using Pilates you are likely to feel leaner, more supple,
more relaxed and less stressed. |
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Pilates suits most people as it is low
impact and is widely use by first time exercisers, top athletes,
sports personalities, people in rehabilitation after back or
muscular problems and is now popular with many show business
personalities. |
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What
is Pilates ? |
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Pilates is beneficial to men and woman,
young or old, athletic or not and people in physiotherapy. It
is a system of body conditioning that is both gentle and athletic,
known for its “feel good” and body transforming
results. |
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People who use take part in Pilates report
benefits such as: |
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Improved
Posture |
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Strengthened and toned muscles without added bulk |
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Increased flexibility and muscle control |
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Improved alignment, coordination and balance |
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Increased lung capacity |
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Uniformly developed muscles |
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Improved range of motion |
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Improved body awareness |
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A more balanced body preventing muscle and soft tissue injury
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In addition they find they sleep better, have increased energy,
release stress and reduce tiredness. |
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Joseph
Pilates |
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Joseph Pilates was born in Germany in 1880
and had a very difficult childhood, suffering from asthma, rickets
and rheumatic fever. |
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To combat the effects of these ailments
he studied and learned body building, diving, skiing and gymnastics. |
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In 1912 he went to England where he earned
a living initially as a boxer, circus performer and a self defense
trainer of English detectives. When World War 1 broke out he
was interned with other Germans designated as “enemy aliens”
at a camp in Lancaster, here he trained other internees in his
physical exercises and is widely credited with the noted fact
that none of his trainees died during the influenza epidemic
that killed thousands in England that year. |
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Returning to Germany after the war, where
he continued his fitness training programs, the German government
requested that he apply his training in and for the German Army.
At this point, in 1926, he decided to emigrate to the United
States. He me his future wife Clara on the boat trip to America
and together, they established a studio in New York to teach
and share his knowledge and fitness programs. |
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He attracted that attention of several
major dancers and dance studios including such well known names
as Martha Graham and George Ballanchine, who sent many of their
own students to Pilates. |
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He lived to the age of 87, a fitting tribute
to the effectiveness of his training methods and fitness exercises. |
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However, his legacy lives on and can be
learned and enjoyed at the Pilates Centre. |
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Who
can benefit from Pilates? |
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Everyone – Everyone can benefit from Pilates and classes
can be tailored to suit any person's level of fitness. |
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Athletes – Golfers, runners, skaters, tennis, players,
dance companies, sports teams, fitness enthusiasts etc |
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Computer Users – Pilates helps to stretch and strengthen
the neck and shoulders, improving posture and body awareness
and alleviating and
preventing neck and shoulder strain. |
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People in rehabilitation – Pilates can be successfully
integrated into rehabilitative exercise and physiotherapy programs
to speed the recovery
of soft tissue injuries. |
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Super Adults! – Pilates is being safely practiced by men
and woman in their 70’s and 80’s |
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Celebrities and athletes – Stars such as Madonna, Jodie
Foster, Patrick Swayse, Uma Thurman, Katharine Hepburn have
all benefited from Pilates |
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Pilates
Types |
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Matwork Pilates - The most common form of Pilates and it is
what it says. Pilates on a mat |
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Reformer (pilates using resistance equipment) |
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Pilates and Pregnancy |
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One to One Pilates |
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Pilates on a ball |
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Pilates
and Yoga - What's the difference? |
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Both are methods of exercise with an emphasis
on stretching as well as strengthening of muscles. However,
Pilates works the body as an integrated whole, coordinating
the upper and lower muscles with the body centre. This dramatically
improves strength, flexibility, posture and coordination. |
