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Are you wondering: what is Pilates?

Let’s see then, what exactly is Pilates, what are its benefits and what is it for.

DEFINITION

Pilates is...

A low-impact method of movement and physical conditioning, which ultimately aims to connect the body and mind and reduce imbalance throughout the whole body:

from head to toe.

This is achieved by learning to develop control and resistance in the body, and to seek harmony and balance between stability and mobility.

However, low-impact on the joints does not mean low intensity.

Pilates classes can be gentle and relaxing but they can also be intense, increasing your heart rate and challenging for your body. Don’t rule out working up a sweat!

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WHY DO PILATES?

The aim of Pilates is to...

Strengthen your body and gain muscle strength from the deepest muscles to the most superficial ones, but also in the extremities.

Pilates works the whole body as a unit!

  • Help you look and feel good.
    It increases mobility, flexibility, and strength, which has an impact on your self-esteem and self-love.
  • Reduces aches, pains, and tension in the body due to poor postural habits, injuries or certain chronic illnesses.

The principle

Benefits of
Pilates

  • Provides better posture and alignment, coordination and balance.
  • Prevents injuries. It is a safe, low-risk exercise (as long as the technique is correct).
  • It teaches us to move consciously and to use breathing as a way to connect the mind and body. 
  • Increases performance and body awareness. Many athletes combine Pilates with their individual sport.
  • Quality is more important than quantity. You must always train with good technique and precision.
  • It has a positive impact on mental health, helping us to relax and manage stress and anxiety.

When it comes to Pilates, exercise is for the mind as well as the body.

PILATES AND MENTAL HEALTH

How does Pilates benefit your mental health?

Improves your self-esteem

Improves your sleep quality

Helps manage stress and anxiety

Helps improve your mood
Improves your self-esteem

Muchas personas eligen la práctica del Pilates como una manera de abandonar el sedentarismo, sentirse más fuertes o verse mejor físicamente.

Comenzar a movernos y trabajar nuestro estado físico es una manera de empezar a cambiar las creencias que tenemos sobre nosotros mismos, tales como “no puedo”, “eso no es para mí”, “me estoy abandonando”, “no me gusta mi cuerpo”, etc.

A través de la práctica de la respiración consciente, conseguimos entrar en un estado de calma y relajación, favoreciendo que nuestro descanso sea de mejor calidad.

Nos deshacemos de toxinas mediante la exhalación y oxigenamos la piel, la musculatura y los órganos durante la inhalación.

Cuando las necesidades físicas se satisfacen con la respiración constante y la conciencia del movimiento que se realiza, el sistema nervioso responde manteniendo una sensación de calma y bienestar profundo.

Esta respuesta nos permite afrontar el estrés cotidiano y la ansiedad, y gestionarlos sin sentirnos abrumados.

Al hacer ejercicio, segregamos una hormona llamada serotonina, popularmente conocida como la hormona de la felicidad.

Este neurotransmisor está implicado en una inmensa mayoría de funciones físicas y psicológicas, como el estado de ánimo, el sueño, el apetito, el deseo sexual, etc. Cuando aumentan sus niveles en los circuitos neuronales genera sensaciones de bienestar, relajación, satisfacción y aumenta la concentración y la autoestima.

Por ejemplo, hay personas que llegan con ganas de practicar el método Pilates para reducir la ansiedad o el estrés, y a las pocas semanas notan cómo se sienten mucho mejor y más liberados.

METHODOLOGY

At Viviane Pilates we follow the Stott Pilates methodology

Stott Pilates is a school with an internationally recognised reputation and is considered the "Ivy League" of Pilates education for the quality of teaching. It is also the school where Viviane certified.
It was created by Merrithew™, a leading organisation in mindful movement, and stands out for having a contemporary approach to the original method created by Joseph Pilates, which provides a safe and highly effective way to:

Strengthen the body

Balance the mind

Recover from or prevent injuries

Stott Pilates is based on six biomechanical principles:
  • Breathing
  • Pelvic placement
  • Rib cage placement
  • Scapular movement and stabilisation
  • Leg alignment (ankles, knees and hips)
  • Head and cervical spine placement
And one of its main objectives is to "re-establish the natural curves of the spine", to provide greater functionality to the body.

All in all, Stott Pilates is a practice that brings numerous benefits, including:

  • Longer, leaner muscles (less bulk, more freedom of movement)
  • Reduces postural problems
  • Increases core strength, stability and peripheral mobility
  • Helps prevent injuries
  • Improves functional fitness, and ease of movement
  • Balances strength and flexibility
  • Increases body awareness
  • No impact on joints
  • Can be customised to suit everyone from rehab patients to elite athletes
  • Complements other exercise methods
  • Improves performance in sports (golf, skiing, skating, etc.)
  • Improves balance, coordination and circulation

Stott Pilates instructors have to obtain Continuing Education Credits (CEC) to maintain their accreditation, which means that Viviane is constantly training.

This means that we are always learning and improving, to incorporate the latest developments and scientific advances in Pilates into our classes, in a way that is dynamic and fun.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Now you know what Pilates is, you might be wondering...

Yes, Pilates is a safe and low-risk type of exercise. Of course, you should always follow the instructions of your instructor. But if practised under the guidance of a professional, it is a very effective form of exercise, which helps both to prevent future injuries, as well as to recover from them.

It's not that you can, it's that you should. All our Pilates classes are personalised for the people we teach. In our opinion, it wouldn’t be Pilates otherwise. The special thing about this method is precisely how technical and precise it is and how it adapts to the needs of each body.

That's why all kinds of people practise Pilates in my studio. From athletes to pregnant women, elderly people, people with injuries, osteoporosis, amputees, office workers with postural problems... Everyone can practise Pilates!
In Pilates, the quality of the movement is valued much more than the quantity of exercise. You should always train while maintaining good, accurate technique. That is why it is so important to do Pilates with a highly qualified instructor, who designs programmes suited to your body and guides you so that your movements are carried out properly.

Pilates can help you alleviate almost any ailment. Simply because it is one of the few exercise disciplines in which you don't have to adapt to it and its movements, but rather the discipline adapts to you, even more so when your instructor personalises your training to suit your needs.

In our classes, we modify all the exercises according to your injuries, ailments, range of motion, etc. So, you can practise Pilates for back pain, neck pain, lower back pain, arthrosis, fibromyalgia, injury rehabilitation, recovery from surgery, vaginal or caesarean postpartum recovery... and the list goes on infinitely.
Yes, if you combine Pilates with other types of exercise, it will help you to improve your performance and improve the efficiency of movement in your other sports discipline. For this reason, many professional athletes integrate Pilates into their training, as it gives them greater body awareness and reduces the risk of injury.

To see results it is recommended you take two classes per week. With Pilates, consistency is the key. You can do two private classes, two group classes, one private class and one group class... Depending on what you can afford financially and the availability of classes.

If you take just one class each week, you will notice positive changes and feel less pain. But obviously your progress will be more gradual.

On the other hand, if you take three or more classes a week, your progress will be exponential, and of course, you will see greater results, much faster. The general rule is the more you practise Pilates, the more physical and mental benefits you’ll enjoy.

Apart from the classes, keep in mind that we also give you homework and activities to maintain your exercise routine at home and continue to take care of your postural habits. This constancy is crucial to preserve the benefits of the classes.

You can practise Pilates at home, outdoors or in a studio, with a mat or with equipment, as well as with the machines created by Joseph Pilates, such as the Reformer, the Chair, the Ladder Barrel, the Cadillac...

We mostly teach Pilates classes on the mat (Matwork) because it is the most accessible for people, but if you have a Pilates machine at home, let us know and we will be happy to teach you online or face-to-face classes using the machines.
The origin of yoga dates back to about 5000 years ago, in India, and means union of body, mind and soul. Pilates was created at the beginning of the 20th century, by Joseph Pilates, based on his knowledge of different specialities such as gymnastics, traumatology and yoga. It unites dynamism and muscular strength with mental control, breathing and relaxation. Pilates focuses on achieving the connection between body and mind, without any spiritual perspective.
The Pilates method was created by Joseph Hubertus Pilates, born in Germany, in the 1920s.

Originally, this discipline was called 'Contrology', until it was renamed Pilates in recognition of its creator.

LIVE THE EXPERIENCE

Do you want to know more about Pilates?

The best way to understand it is to experience it. So come to your first private or group class and see for yourself!
I WANT TO TAKE A PILATES CLASS

Viviane Pilates

The Online Pilates Studio where people of all ages and body types train to incorporate mindful movement into their lives and feel better.

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