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what is pilates?
Developed by Joseph H. Pilates (b.1880 d.1967) Pilates is a system of exercises that engages the body and mind in thoughtful and deliberate activity in order to achieve inner strength and balance throughout. Pilates incorporates breath and movement and the exercises are designed to align and tone all the muscles throughout the body with particular focus on stabilizing the shoulder girdle, the pelvis and strengthening the core abdominal muscles.

Because of its ability to balance the body, Pilates is also used as a movement therapy helping to relieve pain and restore health and vitality. Pilates will benefit the following: pre and post natal women, pre and post surgery ’Äì including hip, knee and shoulder replacement / reconstruction, back and neck surgeries and any other type of musculoskeletal ache or pain. Pilates complements other types of therapy including physiotherapy, chiropractic, osteopathic, massage and acupuncture.

At Axis Pilates your return to health is our concern. We will work together with your other health care providers to ensure a safe, supportive and integrated approach to healing.

Pilates carries over into every aspect of your life, creating ease in the movement and function of your body in everything you do and cultivating an increased sense of well-being.

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Joesph H Pilates

Joseph H. Pilates was born near Dusseldorf, Germany in 1880. He was a sick child suffering from asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever. Unable to be physical at a young age he studied Eastern and Western philosophies on exercise. From this he began to develop his own system of exercises which he called 'Contrology'. By the age of 14 he was posing for anatomical charts and had become a skier, diver and a gymnast.

In 1912 he went to England to become a boxer. He was interned during World War 1 and trained his fellow interns in his system of exercises. He boasted later that none of these interns succumbed to the influenza epidemic of that time. Pilates also began to build the beginnings of the equipment we know today to rehabilitate interns with wartime diseases.

After the war, Joe moved back to Germany where he trained the Hamburg City Police and when approached by the government to train the New German Army he decided to leave for America. So, in 1925 he travelled over to America on a boat where he met his wife, Clara.

Joe and Clara set up a studio in New York and Pilates became popular amongst the famous names of the dance, theatre and writing community of that time.

Pilates continued to teach his method of 'Contrology' for several years until his studio burnt down. He attempted to save his equipment from the fire and eventually died a year later, some believe from smoke inhalation, in 1967 at age 87. His wife Clara continued his work and he also passed his knowledge onto a few of his students, some of whom are still teaching today. Excerpts quoted from "Return To Life Through Contrology", Joseph H. Pilates & William John Miller, The Christopher Publishing House.
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who is pilates for?

Pilates is accessible to almost everyone. There are over 500 exercises in the method. There are also variations and modifications of all of those exercises. So no matter what your goal is, no matter how old you are, a Pilates program can be designed specifically for you to meet your needs and goals.

Certified Pilates Instructors are trained to create programs for clients from all walks of life, to assess and deal with each client as an individual.