Pilates

Chikako Massey's Homepage

What is Pilates?

Pilates is an innovative system of mind-body exercise evolved from the principles of Joseph Pilates.

Pilates dramatically transforms the way your body looks, feels and performs. It builds strength without excess bulk, creating a sleek, toned body with slender thighs and a flat abdomen. It teaches body awareness, good posture and easy, graceful movement. Pilates improves flexibility, agility and economy of motion. It can even help alleviate back pain.

A miracle? Not really. Developed from the techniques of Joseph Pilates who has a proven record of helping many injured soldiers for facilitating exceptionally faster healing during WWI in Europe. Further, dancers, boxers and many other professional/non-professional athletes have been benefited from Pilates to optimize performance and quick recovery.

Click here to check my group Pilates schedule. Private, semi-private and small group lesson can be arranged by contacting me.

Why Pilates for You?

Ø Increases flexibility and agility

Ø Develops optimal core control

Ø Creates flat abdominals, slender thighs and a strong back

Ø A refreshing mind-body workout

Ø Challenging yet safe

Ø Builds strength without “bulking up”

Ø Cope with stress

Ø Enhance athletic performance

Builds long muscles and flexible joints

Conventional workouts tend to build short, bulky muscles - the type most prone to injury. Pilates elongates and strengthens, developing muscle elasticity and joint mobility. A body with balanced strength and flexibility is less likely to be injured.

Creates an evenly conditioned body

In conventional workouts, weak muscles tend to get weaker and strong muscles tend to get stronger. The result is muscular imbalance - a primary cause of injury and chronic back pain. Pilates conditions the whole body - even the ankles and feet. No muscle group is overtrained or undertrained. Your entire musculature is evenly balanced and conditioned, helping you enjoy daily activities and sports with greater ease and less chance of injury.

Improves the mind-body connection

Pilates gets your mind in tune with your body. By emphasizing proper breathing, correct spinal and pelvic alignment, and complete concentration on smooth, flowing movement, you become acutely aware of how your body feels, where it is in space, and how to control its movement. The quality of movement is valued over quantity of repetitions. Proper breathing is essential. Correct breathing helps you execute movements with maximum power and efficiency.

Last but not least, learning to breathe properly can reduce stress.