Pursuing an exercise program designed by a physical therapist can be one of the best protections from injury and surgery. Pukka offers private Pilates wellness and fitness sessions, and both general and specialty small group classes for anyone who wants to improve their strength, flexibility and overall fitness level.

What is Pilates?

Pilates is a system of exercises, originally named Contrology, created by Joseph Pilates over 50 years ago to provide spine and limb length, flexibility, and strength using the breath as the focal point connecting the mind and body. It focuses on what physical therapists have been trying to accomplish for decades, with a little more “art” and research-based techniques and procedures.

History of Joseph Pilates

Joseph Pilates (1880-1967), the inventor of the Pilates method, was an accomplished boxer and gymnast. During the First World War, Pilates devised a series of exercises as a means to rehabilitate those bedridden with war injuries and trained other internees in his system of exercise, known as Contrology. He continued developing his innovative technique that led to his later equipment designs. After traveling to the U.S. during the Second World War, Joe began training a variety of people who flocked to his New York studio. Once word of his “magic” spread, he developed a reputation as a healer and became very popular among the city’s world-class dancers. It was only after his death that his unique and successful exercise programs became available mainstream to dancers worldwide, health professionals, and the general public.

What is Pilates for Rehabilitation?

Pilates for rehabilitation (pilates rehab) is a form of physical therapy treatment that allows us to provide a more total-body approach to your care. Our licensed, orthopedic specialized physical therapists—who are also trained in the Pilates method—use their knowledge and skills to properly diagnose and treat areas of soft tissue and joint dysfunction anywhere in your body.

Benefits of Pilates Exercise

The Pilates method of exercise offers a total body workout program that enhances quality of life through improving strength, flexibility, control, breath, coordination, and body awareness. Posture, core strength, and balance will remarkably improve, resulting in lean and sculpted muscles.

Pilates exercise offers a variety of benefits, including:

• Providing a refreshing mind-body workout.
  Pilates gets your mind in tune with your body, and movement quality and proper body alignment is valued over repetition quantity. Proper breathing helps you execute movements with maximum power and efficiency, and can reduce stress.
• Training several muscle groups at once in smooth, continuous movements.
  By developing proper technique, you can retrain your body to move in safer, more efficient patterns of motion—something that is invaluable for injury recovery, sports performance, good posture and optimal health.
• Offering a safe workout.
  No other exercise system is so gentle to your body while giving it a challenging workout. Many of the exercises are performed in reclining or sitting positions, and most are low impact and partially weight bearing.
• Providing flexibility.
  Modifications to the exercises allow for a range of difficulty from beginning to advanced. You can get the workout that best suits you now, and increase the intensity as your body conditioning improves.