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McQueen, Gregg. Cover Story, "Tuning Muscle and Mind."
PT Today 16 Jan. 1995: 14
Excerpt only.
- One of the hottest trends in physical therapy today laid
its roots more than 70 years ago. During World War I, a young German
citizen named Joseph Pilates was taken as a prisoner of war in
England. Working as a nurse in prison camp, Pilates developed simple
exercises to aid bedridden patients.
That notion of simplicity and functionality led Pilates to develop his own
method of physical training in 1923. Since that time, other trends in
conditioning have disappeared, yet the Pilates Method is just beginning to
blossom.
- Pilates (pronounced puh-LAH-tees) is becoming increasingly
popular as a rehabilitation technique prescribed by physical
therapists. The method restores muscular balance, improves posture,
heals muscular and soft tissue pain, and builds strength and flexibility to
prevent muscles and tissue injury.
The Pilates Method emphasizes body alignment and correct breathing.
Beginning with the abdomen, lower back and hips, it focuses on making the
torso the power center of the body--allowing the rest of the body to move
more freely. Because the technique requires concentration on each
movement in each exercise, it helps people stay mentally focused.
The method has long been used by dancers, professional athletes, actors and
singers because it refines strength, balance and coordination. Famous
past and present users of Pilates include dancers George Balanchine and
Martha Graham, film stars Jessica Lange, Gary Cooper and Patrick Swayze, and
ice skater, Kristi Yamaguchi. Until recently, The Pilates Method was
relatively obscure to the general public, but is now experiencing a growth
thanks in part to innovative PT's.
In a sense, The Pilates Method has come full circle. "Even though
in the past 40 years, Pilates has mainly been used by performers and
dancers, it was originally started for people who were hospitalized and
needed therapy," said Sean Gallagher, PT, director of The Pilates
Studio in New York City.
HARD BODIES, STRONG MINDS. The Pilates Method has been
described as one of the three soft workouts--along with yoga and T'ai
chi--that create a hard body. According to The Pilates Studio, the
method also strengthens the mind because of its meditative quality. It
forces people to get more in tune with their bodies as single units, helping
them master proper alignment, efficient breathing and fluid movement.
People are meant to concentrate on the feeling of each movement at the
precise instant it is being performed. "Pilates is a
well-practiced, well-conceived methodology that has a history of benefiting
people," added Gallagher.
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