photo via Wkimedia Commons
Pilates is
not a new type of fitness regime by any means. On the contrary, it’s been
around since the late 1800s. Yet Pilates has evolved over the years while
interest has grown. We had the chance to ask instructor Dr. Fred Mosby a few
questions about Pilates, and learn how he got started.
RECORD: What is Pilates
and why is Pilates good for you?
Dr.
Fred: The original Pilates was designed in Germany
in 1884 by Joseph Pilates who put an
emphasis on spinal and pelvic alignment, breathing, and developing a strong
core or center, and improving coordination and balance. Many of the first users
of Pilates were dancers, who studied with Joseph Pilates and went on to open
the first studios. Modern day Pilates has evolved and new "contemporary"
forms use props like small-weighted balls, foam rollers, large exercise balls,
rotating disks, and resistance bands.
Pilates is
good for you because it builds core strength, balance, flexibility, muscle
strength, and endurance in the legs, abdominals, arms, hips, and back. Anyone
can practice it from youth to senior citizens, even those who have not
exercised in a long time.
RECORD: How does Pilates work?
Dr.
Fred: Pilates works under six original principles:
·
Concentration
- Pilates demands intense focus. You have to concentrate on what you're doing
all the time and concentrate on your entire body movement.
- Control - All exercises are done with control, with the muscles working to lift against gravity and any resistance.
·
Center/Core
- Centering encompasses the abdomen, lower and upper back, hips, buttocks, and
inner thighs, the "Core."
·
Flow
- All movement begins from the core and flows outward to the limbs. Pilates is
a flowing movement outward from a strong core.
·
Precision
– The focus is on doing one precise and perfect movement at a time.
·
Breathing
– The forced exhalation is the key to full inhalation. The practitioner
breathes out forcefully with the effort and in on the return.
RECord: How is Pilates different than using weights
at the gym or yoga?
Dr.
Fred: Pilates focuses
on developing balance, core strength, and stabilization and learning to use the
core in all daily movement activities.
RECord: Have you always been interested in fitness?
Dr. Fred:
I am certified as a Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist by
the National Academy of Sports Medicine. I teach Personal Training, Weight
Training, BOSU, and Pilates on the Ball fitness classes with Montgomery County
Recreation. In 2011, I earned a doctorate with high honors in Natural Health
from the premiere school for “traditional” Naturopathic Medicine, Clayton
College of Natural Health. My focus is to be healthy and to teach others to be
healthy.
RECord:
How did you get started with Pilates?
Dr. Fred: In 2004, while I was a personal trainer I
realized that many of my typical clients were sedentary and returning to
exercise after long absences. I also discovered, and research has verified,
that the intensity level required by a sedentary person just trying to
improve their cardiorespiratory fitness would be too much for most clients.
Optimum
Performance Training like Pilates can re-introduce deconditioned clients to
appropriate forms of core stabilization, balance, flexibility, and increasing
their strength and endurance.
