Two former students, Carola Trier and Bob Seed were the first to open up their own studios. Joe had personally assisted Carola in opening her studio in the late 1950’s before his death. Carola was a dancer whom Joe helped rehabilitate from a non-stage related injury. They were very close up until his death. Bob Seed, on the other hand, was a former hockey player, and obviously still in dire need of a little competition. He went head to head with his once mentor, by scheduling his studio hours to coincide with Joe’s. The potential for Joe’s clients to be lured away by someone he had trained didn’t go over well. Apparently, a gun-wielding Joe put an end to that with a little visit to Mr. Seed, warning him to get out of the city. Which Mr. Seed did. And quickly!

While Clara continued to manage the original “Pilates” studio in New York City, students Bruce King and Robert Fitzgerald opened theirs in other parts of the city.

However, New York City was no longer the only place where you could study Pilates. The ever growing “mind-body concept” began to spread all across North America. Just months before Joe’s death in 1967, students Kathy Grant and Lolita San Miguel, were “certified” by Joe himself. They are considered to be the only Pilates instructors to do so. Lolita opened her own studio at the Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Eve Gentry, who studied as well as taught “at Joe’s”, opened her own studio in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Mary Bowen opened her studio in Northampton, Massachusetts.

One past student in particular, Ron Fletcher, who studied under Joe to aide a chronic knee injury, opened his Los Angeles studio in 1970. The temperature of the social climate in Hollywood made Pilates an instant hit, falling right in step with the social elite and celebrities alike.

The 1980’s and 1990’s donned the era in which more and more people were made aware of Pilates. With the media abuzz, the newly founded exercise began to boom. Celebrities had set the trend for the practice and everyone else was following.

Today, Pilates has gained exponential popularity with all facets of the general public. It is no longer an exercise for the rich and famous, but has become widely accessible to people of all ages and origins. Ironically, what began in an infirmary at the peak of World War I has become a staple in the lifestyle-wellness of many Americans. Before Joe had passed away he is famous for having said, “I am fifty years ahead of my time”, this not only proved to be true but also set the powers-at-be in motion for the success and longevity of the study of Pilates.

Upon a transfer to another “camp”, he became the hospital intern. Joe claimed that his training methods had healing and restorative components, so he was assigned to the patients that needed treatment for wartime diseases as well as the incarcerated. His ideas about how to combine strength training with natural movement led him to experimentation and invention. He devised spring rigged hospital beds, which he believed to be the basis for his patient’s recovery. Daily routines could be executed from their hospital room and the exercises were rigorous enough that it quickly progressed their health.

He refined his machines during his time in these “camps”. The evolution of these first contraptions would later be the basis for all “Pilates” equipment. Up until that point he had been using his own body weight and strength to assist patients. In order to preserve his body, he further developed his system of pulleys and springs. With the machines implementing a natural “push and pull” maneuver, the patients noticed a gaining of lean muscle mass and increased strength.

In 1918 a wide spread epidemic killed tens of thousands of England’s residents. In the aftermath of the influenza a pattern occurred in all of Joe’s patients, they survived! He considered this to be the jumping off point to solidify his life enhancing practices.

He has said that to do his “contrology” correctly you must, “…concentrate on movement. You must always do it slowly and smoothly. Then your whole body is in it.” After the miraculous survival of his patients, in the year 1925, he began using his machines with his clients on a regular basis.

Joe was asked by the German army to transfer but he declined. He then decided that it was time to leave Germany indefinitely. He immigrated to the United States in 1926. On that voyage he met Clara, who would become his wife and business partner.

They settled into New York City and opened a studio in the same building that housed the New York City Ballet. This was the first introduction of Joe Pilates to America. The proverbial handshake went over well, and Pilates quickly became a popular practice with the New York City Ballet students. Since Pilates is rooted in rehabilitation, dancers found his practices to be extremely beneficial in keeping their muscles and joints “limber”, as well as being the prefect medicine for their sports and stage related injuries.

Once Joe Pilates passed away in 1967, there was potential for his life’s inspiration to fade away too, since he left no will to speak of. Quite the contrary happened.

Joseph Pilates believed in the healing and cleansing ability of improved oxygen circulation in the blood. The higher the propensity for oxygen to flow through the blood, the greater ability for waste to be cleansed out of the circulatory system, thereby increasing the body’s ability to fight fatigue and illness.

Inhalation is just as important as exhalation, and a balance between the two provides the proper exchange of gases to provide a platform for accuracy in your Pilates program. Without a deep in-and-out process of oxygen consumption the body cannot properly equip the muscles and the mind to engage and revitalize its injuries, imbalances, or stress inhibitors. Joseph Pilates knew that the deep breathing patterns he implemented through Pilates would accomplish this and he gave guidelines for the mental imagery needed to correctly identify and incorporate his methods. “Squeeze out the lungs as you would wring a wet towel dry,” he has been quoted in his instruction.

Technically this type of breathing is called posterior lateral breathing. This is the type of breathing that requires concentration, precision and absolute mind over body control. When this is the case, there happens to be tension released from the upper shoulders and neck. The neck is the gateway from which the mind sends out its messages, when the neck is blocked with muscle tension, and even upper shoulder tension, this can inhibit concise interpretation of mind-body control from the central nervous system.

Even though the body and the brain are extremely complicated in their response and alert systems, it can be rudimentary explained in such ways that tie the muscles directly to the most effective pathways for brain function. The shallow way of breathing that is used predominately in everyday life isn’t the type that oxygenates the muscles. Pilates’ deep breathing, encourages you to feel the breath deep enough to where it reverberates into the back and the sides of trunk (rib cage). This is the proper breathing method that Joseph Pilates developed early in his career.

Once you master this form of breathing, and feel the invigorating effects it has on your entire circulatory system, you will begin to identify the differences between shallow and deep breathing. This is then utilized in your studio sessions along with controlled movements; the combination engaging the mind to produce a flowing, graceful ease of action. This energizes the blood, and tones and strengthens the muscles. Joseph Pilates said, “Even if you follow no other instructions, learn to breathe correctly.”

Once the breathing can be associated with the movement in a studio environment, you are much more likely to tap into its refreshing and energizing abilities outside the studio doors. Need to calm down? Need a boost in a dragging workday? Your breathing is that direct route to unlocking what potential your body’s intricate system already has in place for the most common of menial needs.

Rene Craig, the owner of a renowned Pilates studio in Oklahoma City has said, “Athletes of all abilities are always looking for that “thing” that will take them to the next level. Pilates is that “thing”. With its focus on core strength, concentration and control it increases an athlete’s agility, flexibility and helps prevent future injuries. Allowing the athlete to play longer and stay healthier. Staying healthy and getting healthy are also huge factors in choosing to start a Pilates regime.”

In addition to athletic training, men have different muscular and skeletal builds than women. They tend to have smaller hip girdles, tighter hips and tighter hamstrings. Men’s bodies need the same amount of flexibility training and lengthening that women do, but they do not find it as naturally compliable with their body structures as women. A man’s range of motion generally lacks mobility, which could very well be the culprit for a high majority of lower back pain that men cite.

Pilates can benefit men in a laundry list of ways. Pilates improves posture, stability, balance, coordination, functional strength ability, and endurance. Some men have even stated that their sexual performance has increased. Since Pilates does release large amounts of oxygen into the blood, circulation is increased allowing for a much better rate of blood flow.

Physically, a man tends to carry the bulk of his weight in and around the abdomen. Pilates targets the core muscles deep within the core, (oftentimes call the “powerhouse’), and allows for men to start shedding the extra layers of fat that they are prone to carry. If Pilates is used in combination with a consistent cardio program and a lean diet, the results are amazing!

Whether a man is in peak condition, trying to overcome an injury or is aging along in his years- Pilates is the perfect addition to any workout needs he may have. Maintaining and improving the over health and appearance of a man’s body is accomplished I Pilates through a series of controlled and weight resisted movements. Perhaps for a man the most difficult thing about trying Pilates is having to admit to his buddies how he got in such great shape. You can bet that a wife and a nearby Pilates studio may be the one’s getting the long overdue credit.

For any studio or trainer to achieve a PMA certification the following would have to be completed: A passing grade for a 150 multiple choice exam that was compiled through Castle Worldwide, which is the leading certification and licensure company in addition to 450+ hours of self-study, lectures, assistant teaching hours, or apprenticeship. To find a PMA certified trainer in your area visit www.pmapilatescertified.com.

Since the certification process is still in the beginning stages of integration, there are some studios that operate under the apprenticeship or assistant teaching hours method of “certification”. Joseph Pilates himself used this method of teaching, and some of his students were the best Pilates instructors you could find. The bottom line is conformability. Depending on what your comfort level is with using a an instructor who has had more in-studio experience as opposed to an accumulative certification process, you decide what you need to feel at ease in a studio environment.

Aside from the wanting to improve your core strength and the appearance of your physique, there are many clients that pursue Pilates for rehabilitation purposes or for pre-natal care. When it comes to the rehabilitative process, be sure that you choose a studio that has trainer specifically trained to improve your condition. Pilates can be modified to fit any need, so the injury needs to fit the regime, make sure that your trainer has a background in rehabilitative injuries.

For those clients that have pre-natal needs, the same rule applies. Make sure the studio you choose has a trainer that specializes in pre-natal Pilates. While Pilates is an excellent addition to any physical routine, it is not a “blanket” exercise. Pilates for pregnant women will differ significantly from a regular reformer or mat class, so be sure that you find a trainer to meet those needs of a mom-to-be.

The environment, class variety, certification and experience of the trainers are the main factors to be searching or when picking a studio. Take your time, do the research, and hopefully a life long relationship will develop.

The first step is to decide what type of environment you will need to make Pilates most efficient for you. Some people need light, space and vibe to jump start their mind-body connection. Other people don’t necessarily care about aesthetically pleasing environments, but are particular about which type of equipment they prefer to use, or are more comfortable choosing a studio with a certain level of certification or renown within a community.

When choosing a studio, it is best to try a few different ones in your area. Most search engines and phone books can give you a start in the right direction. From there it will be a process of elimination to determine which studio best fits your needs. Cleanliness should be of concern when searching for a studio. After a class you should be directed to clean off the equipment or mats with disinfectant and a cloth. This is basic protocol for any exercise environment. Needing to know a studio’s janitorial routine is the client’s prerogative, and if that is a factor in determining your interest in a studio, just ask.

As beings connected to our environments, it is highly recommended that you find a place which allows you to focus, clear your mind, and engage in Pilates. Some gym environments offering Pilates do a great job of making the Pilates studio its own entity. However there are others that make it rather difficult to focus on proper breathing, which takes a lot of mind control. Gyms tend to have loud music from other classes, aerobic rooms, and televisions overflowing into other areas of the gym. These distractions if sensed or heard in the Pilates studio can affect the mind and cheat you out of a great Pilates workout.

This is why some people choose to use privately owned studios. Not only will there be less distractions but usually the class sizes will be smaller and they will offer one-on one training to help you progress in your training. When looking for a privately owned studio, be sure that they are well equipped to offer you a variety of exercise options and classes.

Variety is the spice of life, and it isn’t any different in Pilates. The body adapts to exercise over time, which can counter productively affect all of the results you used to get from previous Pilates routines. A studio should offer at least these classes: Reformer Classes, Mat Pilates Classes, Small group classes, and Pilates with props classes. In addition to the types of classes offered, each class should range in difficulty from beginner to intermediate to advance. When one is transitioning from one level to another, it is highly recommended that you have an on-on-one Pilates training class in the interim. When segueing into more intense levels of difficulty a little extra instruction will help make the change seamless and safe.

The Reformer, which is one of the most common pieces of equipment used in Pilates rehabilitation, can be adjusted to fit the specific needs of any rehab client. The Reformer is an active tool that physical therapists can use for clinical reasoning. They can apply a certain series of movements to a patient, and then adjust the “dose” accordingly upon recovery rate and injury improvement.

Not only does The Reformer improve and heal injuries, it acts as the ramp for those seeking whole body wellness in the long run. This is what makes The Reformer heads and shoulders above other rehabilitation equipment. Because The Reformer has a potent power to increase overall fitness, this is happening simultaneously as the injury is gently and effectively being healed. The nature of the Reformer movements tone and incorporate all of the muscles of the body at the same time. The goal of all physical therapy is not only to heal the individual but also to reintroduce them to a life of activity much like, if not the same as their former lifestyle. Since the focus of Pilates can be two-fold, fitness and rehabilitation, these will then become the body’s focal point and this balance of meeting becomes an inexorable force of restoration and vigor.

While moving the body parts simultaneously is a trademark movement in Pilates for fitness, it isn’t as commonly used in Pilates for rehabilitation in the beginning. In Pilates for rehabilitation the focus is on separate compartments of movement. The body is then broken down into each area of movement that needs attention. As the body becomes more accustomed to that movement, then layers of motion are added to increase mobility within the injured joint and within the surrounding muscles.

Touching on the mind-body connection mentioned before, this is where the deep breathing patterns in Pilates act as the sewing string that binds the slow and controlled movement with the intention of focus. Pilates for rehabilitation and for fitness have many common denominators, but as the factors are separated out they can become two separate forms of Pilates training. In time they usually can blend into one another creating an entire basis for health and injury, which becomes a cycle of rehabilitation and fitness improvement, a cycle that is not found in any other form of exercise.

The methods of Pilates, whether it is applied to fitness or rehabilitation carry the same principles. Core stabilization, increased muscle performance, posture realignment, flexibility, and deep stretching and breathing. These principles are not only unique to Pilates but are also found in other forms of physical rehabilitation and therapy. The question then begs to ask, what is the difference between Pilates for those seeking fitness and Pilates for those seeking rehabilitation? Since they both integrate the same movements, and both implement the necessary control over those movements through the same series of exercises, how can it benefit such opposite audiences?

The answer can be found in an exploration of this verses that. Pilates for the fitness community uses the same equipment and standardized movements as those seeking rehabilitation, but the focus of the exercise is on increasing the length and strength of the muscles within the body to create that long, taut, lean body that Pilates is known to produce. Increasing the worth of everyday movement is of extreme importance. Pilates for fitness encourages its students to become more aware of their everyday posture, gait, sitting and standing positions, and to use the findings as personal inventory to forge a barometer for improvement within the body.

The body desires to operate on the smooth rails of where our joints and bones are supposed to meet and collaborate. However, years of bad postural and health habits in concordance with improper purchases of movement can cause weight gain, depression, lethargy, and muscle imbalances. This can make the relationship between bone and joint dysfunctional. When the body isn’t running the way it should it makes exercise difficult, and in some cases people abandon the idea that they can even take part. Pilates is gentle on the body and reintroduces common movement with light resistance. It not only is a great exercise for beginners but it has such a wide range of challenge and difficulty, that it can take years to master some of the Pilates apparatus, and in most cases a lifetime.

Athletic improvement and general health progression is the main focus of Pilates for fitness. Reintroducing a state of ability and upward improvement changes the appearance of the body and marries the body to the mind making health and fitness not just a goal to achieve but a state of mind.

Focus is by and large the line in the sand that separates Pilates for fitness from Pilates for rehabilitation. This is the key we will use to unlock the entire reasoning behind Joseph Pilates staging of the Pilates mind-body connection. The power of the mind to improve or heal the body comes from the same place of intention, whether that intention is just to look better or to heal serious injury.

When money becomes tight, stress soars. When financial challenges are presented, healthy coping mechanisms need to be set in place to ensure that the quality of life doesn’t depreciate along with the dollar. Stress can translate into forms of debilitating illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease, immune deficiency, diabetes, and musculoskeletal pain, not to mention sleep depravation, mood swings, and depression.

Creating a calming environment will enable elements of mental escape and provide a sense of centeredness and grounding to those dealing with financial stress. When it comes to choosing a stress reducer, Pilates is at the top of list. Pilates may just be the perfect retreat for you since exercise is proven to release stress by releasing endorphins into the blood. In addition Pilates has relaxation benefits can lower blood pressure and alleviate depression. Pilates not only increases circulation, which heightens energy, it also incorporates a unique methodology into its program called the mind-body connection.

We are conditioned to associate happiness with accumulation, but the beauty of Pilates is that it taps into the unused resources of mind control where the true meaning of inner happiness is found. A Pilates group class can run anywhere from $15-$35 a session. If you are a beginner a private session is recommended, since there is a technique that needs to be developed to perform the exercises properly. A private session can run anywhere from $65-$150+ dollars an hour. To some people this may seem like an extravagance, especially if you are completing a course more than once a week. However, when it comes to improving our health amidst a society’s high climate for stress, a new perspective should be taken, as we need to take a closer look at our personal investments.

Pilates has proven to generously improve mood and one’s state of being. The concentrated effort on proper breathing and heightened body awareness can help a troubled, cluttered mind assume a space of openness and clarity. We carry tension in our muscles, which can affect the pattern of our daily lives in a negative way. Sleep is disturbed and concentration is derailed. Pilates not only releases tension but it also incorporates gentle strength training exercises, which will improve the appearance, strength and endurance of our bodies.

For all of us that have a watchful eye on our finances, be sure that you don’t forget about the importance of stress reduction and your overall mind and body health. Pilates is shouldn’t be considered a luxury, but rather a necessary outlet in which to develop stability in a time of financial uncertainty. A calm and gentle spirit is worth far more than a couple extra dollars in the bank, not to mention will yield longer lasting results than any interest can accrue.

When Pilates is done on a machine another level of challenge is added to a routine since it does use resistance outside of the body’s own. With each stage of experience more external resistance is added to the workout. This series of equipment has a series of pulleys that each has a way of communicating feedback to the instructor and to the participant. Through this two-way line of body and mind communication the participant will be quickly alerted if they are practicing the postures correctly.

Total body stability is enhanced when on the machines, since there is a point of connection with the machine, which allows a base of support for the movements. Muscular imbalances can be corrected through certain machine work, since the machine allows for a wider variety of exercises is very adaptive and appropriate for all types of clients.

The equipment in each class differs as well. Props are often used in mat Pilates classes such as: foam rollers, stability balls, flex-bands, and weighted bands and balls add challenge to the positions and to the tension. When these new elements are added to the mat Pilates routine an even higher level of awareness will be achieved because the balance within the body will be further challenged. Mat work is just a segment of the entire Pilates regime, but it does a great deal to improve posture, strengthen the core, and clears the mind allowing for a better concentration and focus.

For machine Pilates there are a few standard pieces of equipment that you will find. The Reformer and The Cadillac are the mist highly evolved pieces of equipment and can offer a student any range of challenge or ease they prefer. Resistance bands are also used in Pilates machine classes as well as barrels and ladders.

The most cognitive difference that is found between mat Pilates and machine Pilates is that external resistance is added with machine Pilates and mat based Pilates hinges itself on the management of body resistance only. Machine Pilates does offer a wider range of options for the student, and has a high degree of transcendence for   participant, but mat Pilates offers an inviting environment and is easily learned.

Both mat Pilates and machine Pilates will encourage a mind-body connection, whole-body, wellness, and deep stretching and breathing. Each can be integrated with the other, and it is recommended that you do change up your routine very now and then. Adding diversity to your Pilates regime will benefit the body and mind, and also keep the body guessing which will create that physique that only Pilates, mat or machine, can develop.