What is Pilates
Pilates is a form of exercise that aims to promote strength, flexibility, endurance and body awareness.
Pilates was created by German-born Joseph Pilates. He designed an exercise regime to help rehabilitate war veterans in world war one. He believed that his clients’ symptoms were caused by muscle imbalances in the body and habitual patterns of movement. He ultimately devised a series of exercises and training techniques that would allow the exerciser to alter abnormal patterns of movement, correct muscle imbalances, and get carryover into normal daily living activities, by concentrating on precision of movement and focusing on the breathing cycle.
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The Pilates technique has developed significantly over the years and is widely accepted as a safe form of exercise for all abilities; whether you're already active and wanting to build more stability, to improve your performance and prevent injury, or you're a Grandmother wanting to pick up her grandchild comfortably.
What is Physio-led Pilates
Traditional Pilates involves high level exercises that were not suitable to the whole population, so two Australian Physiotherapists have developed a modified approach meaning each exercise has several levels and so the regime can be adapted to the individual’s ability.
These Physiotherapists have since created the ‘Australian Physiotherapy and Pilates Institute’ (APPI). The APPI method (or Physio-led Pilates) is built on a Physiotherapist’s understanding of movement, anatomy and physiology, and it is the only Pilates programme in the world that was fully designed, taught and developed by Physiotherapists.
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Ultimately, Physio-led Pilates focusses on restoring strength, movement and balance in the body to overcome symptoms of musculoskeletal conditions. There are several ways that each exercise can be adapted to ensure that it is the right level for you meaning the class is open to all abilities, beginners welcome.
