It puts emphasis on alignment, breathing, developing a strong core, and improving coordination and balance. The core, consisting of the muscles of the abdomen, low back, and hips, is often called the “powerhouse” and is thought to be the key to a person’s stability.

What Is Pilates?

Pilates is a total body exercise, developed almost one hundred years ago by Joseph Pilates, to rehabilitate injured WW1 soldiers and later, for strength and conditioning of dancers. It became a favourite exercise option of the elite in New York in the 1960s, but has now become more widely available, with a huge range of styles, from classic to contemporary and a number of hybrid classes, combining Pilates with everything from yoga to boxing.

What Does Pilates Do For The Body?

Improves flexibility

Emphasising a full range of motion helps maintain, and in a lot of cases increases, mobility in the body.

Improves Strength

Gain muscular strength and lumbopelvic control. A strong core is the ‘powerhouse’ of your body. It helps reduce back pain, improve posture and alignment, and helps power your sports.

Improves Posture

Pilates exercises require that your body is always in alignment. This is especially beneficial if you suffer from lower back pain.

Benefits Of Pilates For Your Business

Employees will feel improvements in their personal health and fitness and as well as assist with management of any aches/pains or potential workplace injuries 

  1. Improve workplace culture 
  2. Improve posture and reduce desk related aches and pains 
  3. Improve overall health and wellbeing

What Is Pilates Class Like?

A pilates class involves 45min – 1 hr exercise session led by a physiotherapist using a range of equipment

Why Employ Health?

Employ Health physiotherapists are highly trained and skilled in assisting with exercise prescription and guidance on movements. Not only do they have a fantastic understanding of the body and the way our muscles work, but they also have insight into the workplace factors and contributions to injuries and stressors. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Pilates is safe to conduct, it is always supervised by a physiotherapist to ensure safety.

Pilates can range from very gentle to extremely challenging, all of the exercises are easily modifiable in order to suit anyone’s abilities.

Anyone can participate, a physiotherapist will ensure the program is appropriate for each individual and their current exercise level.

The health benefits of Pilates include:

  • improved flexibility
  • increased muscle strength and tone, particularly of your abdominal muscles, lower back, hips and buttocks (the ‘core muscles’ of your body)
  • balanced muscular strength on both sides of your body
  • enhanced muscular control of your back and limbs
  • improved stabilisation of your spine
  • improved posture
  • rehabilitation or prevention of injuries related to muscle imbalances
  • improved physical coordination and balance
  • relaxation of your shoulders, neck and upper back
  • safe rehabilitation of joint and spinal injuries
  • prevention of musculoskeletal injuries
  • increased lung capacity and circulation through deep breathing
  • improved concentration
  • increased body awareness
  • stress management and relaxation.

Pilates can certainly improve posture. Pilates exercises require that your body is always in alignment. This is especially beneficial if you suffer from lower back pain.

Pilates can help with stress management and relaxation, therefore it can most certainly assist with anxiety. Pilates is not just designed to strengthen the muscles and improve balance. It also sharpens our mental faculties, improving our performance both at work and at home. Emphasis on breathing technique and mindful thinking can help to reduce stress and anxiety, enhance concentration, and even improve sleeping habits.

All you need is some comfortable clothes and socks.