Metodo Pilates

Metodo Pilates, more commonly called the Pilates method or contrology, is a physical fitness system developed during more than twenty years by Joseph Pilates.
It’s based on Joseph’s opinion that a sound mind constitutes a sound body.

Most of the carefully designed Metodo Pilates exercises to improve strenght and enhance flexibility, are normally performed on the floor using mats. Moreover, Joseph’s innovational mind has also integrated the use of various apparatus, all conceptualized by Joseph himself, within these routines. But it was the Pilates principles that makes it world-renowned.

The merge of Western and Eastern philosophies, influences of Joseph, created the eight fundamentals of the Methodo Pilates formula:

• fluidity,
• control and precision,
• alignment,
• concentration,
• relaxation,
• breathing,
• centering,
• integration.

Proper breathing is one of the crucial elements in any Metodo Pilates routine.
This allows your body to execute the exercise with maximum power and efficiency and to avoid tension.
But above all, it helps you to focus. After all, you need to envision how the coming movements are interrelated, producing balance and interrelationship between the mind and the body. Failing to focus usually leads to the inappropriate use of muscles or misalignment.

Pilates devotes more emphasis on the techniques – quality over quantity (repetition) -, in contrast to other popular exercises that encourage repetition.
Thus, the actions are precise, well controlled and performed slowly. You have to work at your strong cones like abdomen, pelvic regions and spine to accomplish this.

This helps your body achieve efficient function and balance. At all cost, Joseph Pilates wanted to avoid to inflict injury in your muscles and joints when performing his exercises. That is why his instructions encourage you to loosen up.

Despite all the benefits of Pilates, there’s also criticism. Some people believe that the method does not meet the overall physical fitness discipline.

For one, it rarely contains effective and comprehensive cardiovascular workouts.

In addition to that, it’s inefficient in building strength. The techniques are of low power output and low impact .

Skeptics like some physicians are suspicious of its effects to the health of a person. Though Pilates evokes that it doesn’t encourage the increase of an organ’s size (hypertrophy), some people believe otherwise. Some people even suppose that most of the modern-day moves are abhorred by Joseph Pilates.

These negative elements, however, hardly dissuade the acknowledgement the Metodo Pilates has attained. And as time goes by, it will keep going to help others in their dreams of becoming healthy and fit.