Pilates: History, Uses and Benefits

Background on Pilates

While other ancient forms of exercise have a more dubious or nebulous history, the beginnings of pilates tend to actually be well-known and well-documented. Joseph Pilates created this form of exercise in the 1920s as a means of rehabilitating individuals, athletes and others who were under great physical strain (Weil, 2014). "Some of the first people treated by Pilates were soldiers returning from war and dancers such as Martha Graham and George Balanchine (to strengthen their bodies and heal their aches and pains)" (Weil, 2014). While pilates has been tweaked and adjusted throughout the years, it still remains a heavily used form of exercise, and stays true to its origins. One of the core tenets of pilates is that it is focused creating an intense amount of strength training, but without creating unnecessary bulk. The pilates method revolves around engaging in a...
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