Our interpretation of physical fitness is the attainment and maintenance of a uniformly developed body with a sound mind fully capable of naturally, easily, and satisfactorily performing our many and varied daily tasks with spontaneous zest and pleasure.
— Joseph Pilates
The founder of the method, J. Pilates, was a genius in conceiving and developing his method, based on the principle that a healthy spine is the key to a healthy physical condition, as it gives a person strength, stabilization, elasticity and keeps him/her young.
To deal with musculoskeletal diseases, the method introduces the strengthening of the center of the body, the Powerhouse (the region of the abdominal and back muscles), as J. Pilates himself called it.
Through movement, and as the students learn to activate it through their center (Powerhouse), they begin to use deeper muscle groups that strengthen and support the spine.
Stabilization, Control, Concentration, Flow, Breathing and Precision in movement are the principles upon which the Method is based. In this way, muscle ‘memory’ is created and the student acquires mental and physical balance, aligned body posture, endurance, more strength, flexibility, greater mobility, self-awareness and physical youth (as Pilates said, ‘you are only as young as your spine is flexible’).