What is The Pilates Method of Body Conditioning?

The Authentic Pilates™ Method (pronounced pih-LAH-teez), developed by the legendary physical trainer Joseph Pilates, is a full body exercise system. Emphasizing body alignment and correct breathing, Pilates uses the abdomen, lower back and buttocks as a power center, known as the "POWERHOUSE," enabling the rest of the body to move freely. It is a series of controlled movements engaging your body and mind, performed on specifically designed exercise apparatus and supervised by extensively trained and certified instructors.

Pilates emphasizes the discipline of movement. It's six principles: concentration, control, centering, breathing, flow, and precision optimize postural alignment and muscle balance, enabling you to learn to move with maximum efficiency while minimizing stress and impact on your body. Targeting the deeper muscles in your body, the muscles closest to the spine, Pilates focuses on core stabilization, making you stronger from the inside out.

Why Do Pilates?

Everyday activities such as sitting, standing, running, playing sports, dancing and working out in a gym, strengthen some muscle groups but leave other muscle groups weaker and undeveloped..The resulting muscular imbalance may never be noticed, but can eventually become a source of fatigue, discomfort, pain and even immobility. Pilates facilitates muscular harmony and balance. People who consistently use The Pilates Method discover that without conscious effort they improve their posture, move more gracefully, sleep better, and develop firmer, sleeker more powerful muscles..

Posture will improve, stomach and buttocks will become more toned, and legs and arms will be leaner. Your energy level will dramatically improve. Pilates sessions are done one-on-one so that each session is tailored to your body's specific needs.

What is Different About The Pilates Method?

Pilates Incorporates Mind and Body. Joseph H. Pilates believed that correct body alignment and neuromuscular re-training begins with education and total body conditioning. As your mind is directed through your body's precise movements, a new awareness of muscle function and control is experienced. More than 500 specifically designed movements using five major pieces of unique exercise apparatus were conceived by Joseph H. Pilates to develop the body uniformly.

• Pilates allows you to focus on your core muscles while the rest of your body is also working out.
• Pilates is a training approach that is more three dimensional than linear. Pilates feels different from traditional exercises. Pilates is about elongation versus compression, eccentric versus concentric movements and lengthening muscles versus pumping up and bulking up. Some people feel stiff from doing traditional weight training and group exercise classes.
• Pilates teaches clients to think about their body, to understand it as whole rather than just learning exercises. Pilates is about helping reverse the imbalances each client has in their bodies. Our clients like Pilates because it feels personalized, a workout designed especially for them.
• Pilates also reduces pain. Many clients think they will have pain forever, but Pilates helps them feel better.
• Pilates is a useful tool to discover what the client is doing wrong that slowly may be leading their body towards a huge injury.
• Pilates helps athletes who do repetitive movements. They need to get their balance back in their bodies. For example,if you have a cyclist who is always in that forward flexion position, they need chest opening and extension.
• Pilates can help clients throughout their day. Our work with them will directly affect how they use their bodies in daily life, how they walk,how they sit at work. They will feel the difference.
• Pilates work can alleviate stress and help clients develop inner core strength.

Why is Pilates Increasing in Popularity?

There is a movement toward lumbar and core stability throughout the rehab world, so therapists are looking at different forms of exercise such as Pilates. Therapists also are becoming more comfortable with Pilates as they read about the research being done on it.
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A rise in the health-conscious public for a safe and effective exercise system has promoted a growing number of people to enthusiastically embrace The Pilates Method as a primary exercise regimen.

Every aspect of a Pilates workout is pleasurable, because the movement is flowing and buoyant. Completing a workout will leave you feeling refreshed and energized. Everyday tension has dissipated; your muscles feel massaged and completely relaxed.

There is also aesthetic reward. The Pilates trained body is lithe, toned and supple. Several individuals who have been trained in the Pilates Method are: Madonna, Kim Cattrall, Jasmond Sky, Katherine Hepburn, Jessica Lange, Candice Bergman, James Taylor, Robert Downey Jr, Patrick Swayze, and Jodi Foster, to name a few.

Who was Joseph H. Pilates?

Born in Germany in 1880, Joseph H. Pilates had a lifelong interest in body conditioning. As a frail child dedicated to becoming stronger, he later trained as a boxer in England. During the time he served as a nurse in World War I, he designed exercise apparatus by attaching springs to hospital beds for non-ambulatory patient exercise. This system formed the foundation for his style of body conditioning and specialized exercise apparatus, which he brought to New York City when he opened the first Pilates Studio™ in 1926. More pictures of Joseph H. Pilates.

Who is Master Teacher Romana Kryzanowska?

Romana Kryzanowska, Master Teacher, first came to Joseph Pilates at the recommendation of George Balanchine when she was a young dancer at the School of American Ballet in New York City. From that time on she was closely involved with and dedicated to Joseph Pilates. For over 50 years she has taught, lectured and demonstrated Authentic Pilates™ throughout the world. Romana carries on Joseph's work at Drago's Gym in New York City and directs the teacher certification seminars at The Pilates Studios.

Who is Master Instructor Bob Liekens?

Bob Liekens is originally from Belgium. In 1983, he traveled to New York City to further explore his dance career. That same year he started his Pilates training at The Pilates studio. Being fascinated with the Graham technique, he initially pursued studies at the Graham Center for Contemporary Dance. In 1991, he became one of the first certified teachers in the technique. Subsequently, he taught for two years at the school. It was Romana Kryzanowska who in 1986 invited him to teach the Pilates Method. He has been teaching under her inspiration since. Starting in 1993, he has been instrumental in building out her Teacher Training Certification Program. He co-created the Training Manual and originated current exam systems. For several years now, Bob has been invited both nationally and internationally to conduct Teacher Training Seminars, Workshops, and Continuing Education Programs. Bob joined the Power Pilates Team in September 2000 as a studio Director and is also involved in the Teacher Training Certification Program. Bob became a certified yoga instructor in 1999.

Who is Alex Weixler?  
 
Alexandra Weixler is a NY schooled and classically trained Authentic Pilates™ Instructor certified by Romana Kryzanowska,
Sari Pace-Santo at Drago's Gymnasium & Bob Liekens at the Pilates Studio in Dec 2000. Alex is the previous owner of PILATES FITNESS, Great Neck, NY, where she and her team of 8 instructors worked primarily on clients with injuries. The staff was all classically trained under the tutelage of Master Teacher Romana Kryzanowska and the POWERPILATES team.

www.authenticpilatesmethod.com
Florida's Continuing Education Center

Alex's primary focus is facilitating continuing education opportunities to the Florida Pilates community through education seminars and workshops . Industry leaders dedicated to the highest standards in Pilates training will conduct these seminars. The instructors will teach Contrology, the method that founder, Joseph H. Pilates, utilized. Alex is excited to host workshops from 1st Generation Teacher of Teachers and Master Teachers programs. Their knowledge is so powerful it needs to be shared! All instructors teach from their hearts and are constantly striving to be better teachers and overall healthier people. Alex feels privileged and honored, as she did in her successful NY studio, to once again host these experts in the Pilates industry. Alex is looking forward to joining forces with you. The goals at this Florida Continuing Education Center are to take responsibility for ourselves, our education, our clients’ well being.

Alex is looking forward to hearing from you, please contact her at:
727-278-3166 or via email AWeixler@aol.com              

 Making a difference one instructor at a time, by sharing knowledge with humility & unity.

Education with direction and proper guidance.

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