What is Pilates and why do we love it?

Vil du vite litt mer om historien og personen bak Pilates-teknikken? Vår dyktige lærer Cyrena har skrevet en artikkel til deg som er nysgjerrig på denne populære treningsformen - og hvordan vi underviser Pilates på Kjernekraft.

“Pilates is the complete coordination of body, mind and spirit”

- Joe Pilates

A brief history of Pilates:

Pilates was originally called Contrology, a method developed by Joseph H. Pilates (1883–1967). Born in Germany and plagued by health challenges as a child, Joseph dedicated his life to physical wellness and body mastery. He began creating his system during World War I, working in an internment camp where he trained fellow inmates using innovative bodyweight exercises and makeshift equipment. Drawing from his background in gymnastics, bodybuilding, and keen observations of animal movement, he developed a method that strengthened both mind and body. Many of his first exercises were used to rehabilitate injured veterans — and it was during this time that the foundation for the now-famous Universal Reformer was born.

In 1926, Joseph moved to New York City with his wife Clara. Together, they opened their first studio in the same building as the New York City Ballet. Soon, dancers, choreographers, and performing artists — including legends like George Balanchine and Martha Graham — became devoted students of the method.

Throughout his life, Joseph developed a full suite of equipment designed to support and challenge the body in new ways: the Reformer, Cadillac (Trapeze Table), Wunda Chair, Spine Corrector, Ladder Barrel, and more. These tools helped bring his vision of full-body integration and functional movement to life. He also wrote two books: “Return to life through Contrology” and “Your Health,” fascinating reads for anyone interested in diving deeper into the thoughts and ideas behind Pilates.

Pilates today and its benefits:

Today Pilates is a popular exercise system taught and studied all over the world. It is low impact making it accessible to everyone, from dancers and athletes who want to increase full-body strength while preventing injuries, to seniors, women postpartum, as well as those in rehabilitation. The Pilates system helps create an awareness of the body that you can bring into everyday activities, like walking, sitting, and standing.

Some of the benefits of Pilates include:

• builds core strength & muscle tone

• increases flexibility 

• improves posture & alignment

• prevents injuries

• relieves pain & stress

Pilates at Kjernekraft:

At Kjernekraft we teach Pilates following the principles of Joe Pilates original system, using classical equipment designed after the original equipment. The universal reformer, one of the main pieces of equipment, is built with specific dimensions and springs used to create elasticity and muscle tone. The springs are unique as they work the same way our muscle fibers do aiding us in developing elastic strength. We also follow a certain order of exercises on the reformer that are progressive, which not only warm up the body, but also build specific motor skills, elasticity and adaptability. In addition to the reformer we also have other apparatus including the cadillac, chairs, towers, spine correctors, and barrels. In our classes we use the full Pilates gym and do similar exercises on different apparatus to create a deeper integration of the work and to make the work accessible to everyone.

Following the methodology of Pilates E-motion, under the guidance of Gloria Gasperi (founder of Pilates E-motion) and Lesley Bell, we strive to create an environment that helps our students access the innate knowledge in their bodies. Our goal is to give our clients the space to sense their bodies, their movement and to guide them accordingly. We want to give people the freedom to move and to find themselves through the movement. We encourage autonomy, curiosity and self awareness. We work the body as a whole, instead of targeting individual body parts. For us, every exercise is a full body exercise. We believe that Pilates can heal your body, not only physically, but can also contribute positively to your mental and emotional well-being.

Many of us, both teachers and students, have our success stories with Pilates, but one of my favorites is my mother’s who was a student of Joe Pilates herself. She had really bad scoliosis as a child and she was told by a doctor that if it wasn’t for the work she did with Pilates she would have ended up in a wheelchair. Not only did she not end up in a wheelchair, but she was a dancer into her 20’s and continued practicing Pilates until she died in her late 70’s.

Do you have a Pilates success story? Or do you want to know more about Pilates? Let us know below!