What is Pilates?                          Balancing Mind & Body

Imagine an exercise program that you look forward to, that engages all of you, and that leaves you refreshed and alert with a feeling of physical and mental well-being.

Pilates is an integrated exercise system that uses specially designed spring resistance-based equipment (pictured at right) or specialized mat exercises to develop deep core and full body strength. The first emphasis is on building a strong, supported, yet supple spine. Gradually the entire body is challenged to connect into this strength, and the whole body becomes more integrated and stronger as a result.

Core Benefits

• Promotes long, lean, strong muscles
  
• Build core strength and awareness
  
• Heightens coordination and balance
• Sharpens mental focus
• Alleviates poor posture and restores structural integrity through the application of alignment principles
• Restores proper body function and integration of all systems: muscular, skeletal, respiratory, circulatory, nervous
• Reduces and prevents pain and illness
• Heals and rehabilitates through a gentle and methodical approach to the body
• Complements and enhances any sport or activity
  

Pilates is Beneficial for Every BODY!

Pilates teaches body awareness, good posture and easy, graceful movement. It improves flexibility, agility and economy of motion. It can even help alleviate back pain and reduce stress.

Professional dancers have used Pilates for decades. Top athletes use it for strength, flexibility, and injury prevention. Hollywood celebrities and supermodels use it to maintain beautiful physiques.

A miracle? Not really. Developed from the rehabilitation techniques of Joseph Pilates, Pilates is a safe, intelligent exercise system using a floor mat or specialized equipment, that will help you look and feel your very best. No matter your age or condition, Pilates will work for YOU.

Pilates develops a strong "core" or center of the body. The core consists of the deep abdominal muscles, and the muscles closest to the spine. The exercises develop core control, integrating the trunk, pelvis and shoulder girdle.

• Builds strength without "bulking up"
• Increases flexibility, agility and balance
• Develops optimal core control
• Non-impact exercise that is easy on the joints
• Helps to build bone and fight osteoporosis
• Creates flat abdominals, slender thighs and a strong back
• Is a refreshing mind-body workout
• Is challenging yet safe
  

In every exercise, you’re engaging all of the muscles in your body so you’re getting a total-body workout, strengthening your muscles equally and proportionally.

Another well-known benefit of Pilates is improved posture. Not only do you build strength to hold yourself taller, you’re also more aware of how you move throughout the day.

And because Pilates is a mind-body exercise, melding breathing with the movements, you’re able to clear your mind. You have to focus on what you’re doing, and because of that you don’t have time to think about your worries, so you naturally relieve stress.

While Pilates is designed for every body, no matter your age or fitness level, it’s best to start with private lessons. Working one-on-one with a professional instructor will help to ensure that you are using proper form and you don’t injure yourself.

As you get more comfortable with the technique, joining group equipment classes can add both a social or community feel to exercise, as well as challenge you to focus more.

The mainstay of Pilates equipment is the reformer. This piece of equipment features pulleys and springs that activate muscles differently than is possible on the mat. The reformer also requires a little more balance and coordination, thereby strengthening your stabilizing muscles. We also incorporate work on the Cadillac, Chair, and Barrels to provide a well-rounded full body workout.

Doing Pilates several times a week can benefit your mind and body. An added bonus? You’ll tighten those abs and perhaps drop a little weight, which is why Pilates remains so popular today.

The Pilates Center of Kona has the full spectrum of STOTT PILATES* equipment (aka apparatus) which allows our highly trained instructors to lead our clients through a wide variety of exercises to ensure you never get bored.

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