Joseph Pilates (the name Pilates is of Greek derivation - ‘Pilatu’ - but was later changed) was born in Germany in 1883. As a child, he suffered from rickets, rheumatic fever and asthma which led his parents, and Joseph himself when older, to study, analyse and create new forms of exercise that he later called ‘contrology’.
In 1912 he travelled to England as a boxer and gymnast, also working as a circus performer. Two years later World War I broke out and he was interned along with other German citizens in Lancaster. This is where his theories and techniques started to evolve, using mattresses, springs and anything he could find at hand!
After the war, Pilates moved to New York, met his wife Clara, and in 1926 opened his first gym on Eighth Avenue collaborating with famous dancers and choreographers such as George Ballanchine, Martha Graham, Romana Kryzanowska and many others. He died in 1967 at the age of 87 and his students, colleagues and doctors subsequently took on the role of spreading the knowledge they had learned from him in what has now become known worldwide as the Pilates Method. This method is one of the fastest growing fitness activities today and is practiced by a wide range of people with varying fitness goals: from those who just want to have a healthy body for everyday living to professional athletes aiming for an extra edge to improve their performance and protect them from potential injuries. In addition Pilates is highly recommended for people with spinal or joint problems, for physical rehabilitation and during and following pregnancy as well as in other special circumstances.
Pilates is practiced either on a mat, with the option of using accessories such as the magic circle, balls, etc, or on resistance equipment where through the use of pulleys and graduated levels of springs the practicioner exercises using his own body weight. The most commonly used and well know equipment is called ‘The Reformer’.
The Pilates method seeks to develop controlled movement from a strong core and the changes in the body start from within, working on posture, flexibility, stamina, strength and overall health for a new, pain-free body! The most common benefits that people report they have experienced through Pilates is that they become stronger, leaner, stand taller and move with greater ease and grace. They all agree that the Pilates motto holds true:
In 10 days you will feel better,
In 20 days you will look better,
In 30 days you will have a whole new body.
Stretch Pilates in Naoussa is the first fully-equipped Pilates studio on Paros, offering the classical, systematic and integrative approach to the Pilates Method.
For more info, contact Power Pilates certified teacher Keren Patzia on 22840-55189 or 694-278-8265 or find us on Facebook at:
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Samples of some beautiful wild flowers of this Greek Island.
Cooking recipes from Alice Meyer-Wallace's Cookbook.
Mary Godfrey's humourous illustrations of life in Paros Island.
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