What is Pilates?

Pilates is a mind/body exercise that emphasizes balanced development of the body through core strength, flexibility and awareness. The top benefits reported are people become stronger, longer, leaner, enabling them to perform physical tasks with ease. Pilate exercises are adaptable to all fitness levels. The exercises are ideal for athletes, women, men, seniors and people who are recovering from injury.

Core strength and torso stability set the Pilates method apart from many other types of exercise. Weight lifting, for example, can put a lot of attention on arm or leg strength without attending much to the fact that those parts are connected to the rest of the body! Even running or swimming can seem like all arms and legs, with a floppy or overly tense core. Ultimately those who really succeed at their sport learn to use their core muscles, in Pilates this integrative approach is learned and incorporated into all activities.

What Equipment is used in Pilates?

Pilate exercises can be done on a mat on the floor, Mat Work, or on equipment developed by Joseph Pilates. The workout equipment that is used in Pilates generally utilizes pulleys and resistance from the participants own body weight on the machine and graduated levels of springs. Equipment you will encounter at Out The Box Fitness studio are reformer, ladder barrel, stability chair, spine corrector and fitness circle.