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I put this book together because I really believe in Pilates and how it can enhance your life. I came across the technique by chance when I was sixteen years old and, while I am not a Pilates teacher, have been doing it enthusiastically for the whole of my professional life. I feel Pilates is the best thing I have ever done for my body and, once you work through the exercises, I'm sure you will feel the same way too - especially if like most women you're looking for a flat stomach, taut bottom, toned arms and firm thighs. Or if you're a man looking to build core strength and lengthen your muscles, Pilates can definitely help you to achieve all this. Plus, as I have found, it's a wonderful source of meditation and relaxation. It's a form of exercise I love and I hope you will too.
Pilates (pronounced Pil-ah-tes) is basically a method of body conditioning that was developed nearly a hundred years ago in Germany by Joseph H. Pilates. It's unique because, unlike other forms of exercise, the technique works on strengthening, lengthening and toning muscles, as well as improving posture and increasing your flexibility and balance. This leads to a leaner, stronger and more streamlined physique. Joseph Pilates first developed the technique to help strengthen his frail body after being plagued with asthma and rickets as a child. Interned during the First World War, he taught his method to fellow internees and successfully helped keep them strong and healthy until the war ended.
Moving to America in 1926 he set up his first Pilates studio in New York, where the Pilates method quickly became popular among dancers when Martha Graham and George Balanchine became fans. Today, Pilates is famous worldwide thanks to a devout following of dancers and celebrities, but it's also loved and adored by anyone who is looking to change their shape and achieve a strong, lithe body.
I was introduced to Pilates because as a young dancer I was very supple and needed to know how to control my body. Pilates was an excellent way for me to learn how to do this. On the whole dancers use this method because it is the best way to exercise every muscle in the body without over-developing anything and creating bulk muscle. This is especially important for us, because we don't want to appear muscle-bound on stage. In addition, the lengthening and strengthening basis of the method helps keep our muscles supple, which means we look leaner and stay stronger as dancers for longer.
Pilates is also invaluable because a lot of dancers have injuries, particularly now ballet has become so intensively athletic and our bodies inevitably pay the price in some way. Pilates has long been known as an excellent recovery tool because it can help pinpoint an injured area, isolate the muscle group that's damaged and focus specific exercises on it. Unfortunately I have had to have two ankle operations, one of which kept me from performing for nine months. Having Pilates to keep me strong through my rehabilitation helped me stay in mental and physical shape and eventually recover completely from such a serious injury.
If you think Pilates looks and sounds daunting, don't worry, you don't have to be a ballet dancer to do it, and Pilates can be done by anyone of any age. The core Pilates programme I have put together in this book is for those looking to change their physique, streamline their body and improve on their posture. For beginners, I suggest doing it three times a week for an hour. When working your way through this programme you may find you get frustrated because the exercises are slow and you won't feel the burn and sweat like you do at the gym, but stick with it because as you advance you will not only feel your muscles toning up but also see your body tightening. If you have any injuries, seek medical advice before you start the programme and make sure you stop doing any exercise that gives you a sharp pain (a dull pain is your body stretching). However, whether you're in good shape or not, always work at a slow and controlled pace so you can get to grips with the exercises.
The real beauty of Pilates is that once you have mastered the exercises you can use the technique in all areas of your life because they not only make you stronger, but also teach you to become aware of your body and how you use it. Pilates shows you how to breathe and relax properly which is essential for anyone who feels stressed out by their daily life. I do an hour and a half class twice a week, and I find that stops me being excessive about exercise, and at the same time does enough for my body.
I really feel incredibly lucky that I am able to have a career that I love and a family I adore, and I believe it's important not to get set in your ways and always stay open to new things. If you feel the same way about life, Pilates is for you because it will help you see that you can change your body and strengthen your mind no matter what your age, or what you've done in your life so far. Pilates gives me ultimate confidence. If I've done my exercises before start my working day, I know I am prepared and ready for anything that comes my way.
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