Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness. 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
About Pilates
I must be right. Never an aspirin. Never injured a day in my life. The whole country, the whole world, should be doing my exercises. They'd be happier.
- Joseph Pilates, in 1965, age 86
Foundations of Pilates
• Joseph Pilates' methods are based on his lifelong study of the principles underlying and governing the laws of nature.
• He believed that incorrect habits are responsible for most of our ailments, and that through proper education it is possible to replace bad habits with new ones.
• He considered many methods of movements. China, India, the Greeks and Roman philosophies too. The common denominator was “not too much, not too little”
• It is possible to trace the point at which balance and equilibrium were disrupted. Knowing this would enable you to understand how to correct and eliminate the bad, which will in turn improve the good.
• He believed that scoliosis and curvature of the spine or any disruption in the natural development of the body is often caused by coaxing and encouraging children to stand and then walk before their limbs were strong enough to support them or have the mental capacity to control their equilibrium in movement.
• He believed spinal flexibility is an accurate way of determining your true age, and that fortunately the spine lends itself quite readily to correction.
• The only requirements of Pilates are that you must always faithfully and without deviation follow the instructions accompanying the exercises and always keep your mind wholly concentrated on the purpose of the exercises as you perform them.
