Q. What is Pilates? A. Originally called "Contrology," Pilates is the method of body conditioning developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920's. It consists of over 500 full body exercises, which focus on the deep abdominals, glutes and back while lengthening, strengthening, and aligning all of the muscles. The primary goal of Pilates is to teach your body to move in the most safe and efficient way possible. This is achieved through the exercises which will balance the strength and flexibility of all of your muscles and joints. Pilates can be done on the mat or a full range of Pilates specific equipment such as "The Reformer," "The Trapeze Table," "The Chair," and "The Barrel." Q. What kind of benefits will I see? A. "In 10 sessions, you'll feel the difference; in 20, you'll see the difference,; and in 30, you'll have a whole new body." – J. Pilates Soon after you begin a Pilates program you may notice improved posture, reduced stress, and better mental focus. Once your strength and body awareness improves, the benefits will be noticeable to others. As your deep abdominal muscles strengthen, your belly will flatten and your waistline narrow. Your arms, legs, back, shoulders, and glutes will become more flexible and strong, and begin to look more lean and toned. As you advance to more challenging exercises, you will find that Pilates will effect the way you move through everyday life with improved coordination, balance, posture, breathing capacity, and a flexible, strong body. Q. Who can do Pilates? A. As a child Joseph Pilates suffered from ailments such as rheumatic fever, asthma, and rickets. He dedicated his life to attaining physical and mental strength through the study of Eastern and Western exercise traditions. Because Pilates progresses from a very minimal challenge for the beginner or one suffering from physical weakness, to a very challenging workout for a serious athlete or advanced student, anyone can do Pilates! Now with the addition of a Physical Therapy program at Poise, those who have a Doctor's prescription may choose Pilates as a way to rehabilitate injuries or other conditions.Call for further information regarding your specific condition. Q. How can I try a Pilates workout? A. Here at Poise, we recommend that you do at least one private before joining any of our groups. We offer a 90-Minute Initial Private to get you started. In your session, you will receive a postural analysis to find areas of strength and weakness, and to take note of any muscle imbalances in your body. This is a perfect time for you to mention any of your fitness needs and goals. You will first learn some basic Pilates Matwork. The instructor will teach each exercise step-by-step. Then, your instructor will guide you through some exercises using the different Pilates apparatus such as the Trapeze Table, the Reformer and the Ladder Barrel. At the end of your session you will feel energized and refreshed. Your instructor will make some recommendations about how best to achive your needs and goals and answer any questions you have.