Meet Elizabeth and her

Pilates is an exercise method that was invented in the early 20th century in New York City. Pilates has been passed down through the generations from the original inventor, Joe Pilates and his wife, Clara.

Along with being an exercise method, Pilates is also a lineage that can be traced back to the first generation teachers (or Pilates elders), Carola Trier, Kathy Grant, Sari Santos, Jay Grimes and most notably, Romana Kryzanowska (among others) continued to train and certify their own students through the late 20th century. Today there are very few first generation teachers left to train with (Sari based out of NYC and Jay based out of LA) but there are many hundreds of second generation and third generation teachers who devote their lives to continuing the work that Joe Pilates started all those decades ago.

Pilates can be practiced on the floor (Mat exercises) or on equipment that was specially designed for the execution of Pilates exercises. The most common piece of equipment is the Universal Pilates reformer (originally manufactured by Gratz). Pilates equipment uses steel springs and leather straps to create resistance in the body. This resistance allows for the Powerhouse or main muscle groups that support the spine, to engage, lift, lengthen and strengthen.

Overall, a regular practice of Pilates (2-4X per week) helps to keep the body limber and strong. Pilates is a lifetime exercise because it is easy on the joints and can be done lying down to accommodate any injury or condition that may limit range of motion in the body that may come with age. Other benefits include longer and leaner muscle tone, especially in the abdomen, a stronger mind-body connection, improved posture, body image, and sexual ability as well as increased mental focus, energy, and stamina.
 
Elizabeth Koosed is a Professional Pilates teacher based out of New York City. She teaches private and semi-private classes in Brooklyn (www.fleshandbone.org) and the Upper East Side (www.Pilateschallenge.com) as well as live online classes through MyBodWellness.com. Follow her on twitter @Ellyzyl