Pilates is a form of exercise that focuses the powerhouse – the muscles around the waist, back, and buttocks – and aims at stretching and strengthening the whole body. Pilates exercises have to be performed slowly and concentrated while simultaneously breathing into the chest. The first pilates studio was founded in 1923 by Joseph Hubert Pilates, who was a gymnast, body builder, professional boxer and even a circus performer. Pilates combines

strength with motion
perception with breathing
mobility with posture
relaxation with muscle tension 

At the beginning, the techniques seem to be very easy, but they are very effective and you can see and feel results within a short time.

Joseph Pilates expressed it this way, “After 10 hours you’ll feel better, after 20 hours you’ll look better and after 30 hours you’ll have a completely new body.”

WHO IS PILATES FOR?
Basically, pilates can be done by everybody, but it is especially suitable for:

• athletes as an additional strength training or after injuries,
• dancers, actors and musicians who need a good posture,
• people who want to prevent osteoporosis or back problems,
• people who want to improve their body posture and their fitness,
• people who suffer from chronic back pain due to poor posture,
• elderly people who want to stay agile and flexible.