Whatever you think you know about Pilates,...think again.
Developed by Joseph Pilates to train and rehabilitate German soldiers during WWI, the method was originally coined "Contrology".
Arriving in the United States in the 1920s in the decade before WWII, the method was immediately adopted as
playing a critical role in the training, rehabilitation, and excellence of the professional dancers in George Balanchine's NY Ballet Co.
Regardless of (gender), age, condition, experience (or lack of), the somatic method of "Pilates" is capable of impacting all aspects of our human experience, from physical, mental, and spiritual, increasing personal confidence, and improving presentation
(aka countenance); infused with a philosophy and dependent on Joseph's uniquely-designed equipment at its epicenter.
Soon after Joseph Pilates' died in 1969, the method was renamed "Pilates", and became protected by trademark
by a group of individuals who had been mentored for decades at NY Pilates base; known as "Joseph Pilates' First-Generation Disciples".
Over the years that followed, the method was discovered by Physical Therapists in the 1980s, and made chic by celebrities in the 1990s, eventually becoming so popular, a class-action lawsuit was filed against NY Pilates, forcing them to relinquish
trademark-protection in 2001, and the word "Pilates" redefined in the public domain as "open to interpretation"; followed by an explosion of Pilates-related books, DVDs, and pseudo-Pilates classes included with every gym memberships that focused on a series of movements Joseph originally created as "homework" to supplement his Apparatus client's work.
While Pilates is hard even for an expert to explain, the trademark lift caused an already bewildered public to arrive at the concensus; "Pilates must not only be synonymous with yoga, but made up of floorwork moves performed on a mat, and
primarily designed for women".
This represented a huge disservice to the method, because! While disciplined and driven, Joseph Pilates was a spontaneous, creative, improvisational, and anatomically-educated eccentric who loved challenging bodies in a way that was also FUN for him,...
...Enter Pilates At Play.
Mentored in the approach by Joseph's original "disciples" in the 1990s, Second-Generation, Pilates Disciple/Geek, due to being unapologetically irreverent, A.D.D., and somewhat unsensored, Trisha Hatfield Graves is wired to channel JP. :-)
FunFaq "Pilates" -vs- "Men": Joseph Pilates didn't allow women to practice his Method until migrating to the USA & going to work for George Ballenchine & the NY Ballet. I've always averaged about 20% male clients, usually opting for Reformer Classes.
Pilates Reformer? -vs- Pilates Mat?
Group Reformer Classes
Kinky? Intimidating? Medieval-looking? Aw sure, but guess what? Anyone can begin with Reformer without feelin' like the stinky new kid!
There are 5 major pieces of equipment & several minor representing the epicenter of the method & referred to in Pilates-Speak as "Classical Apparatus"; the first-born being "The Reformer" (pictured L), developed to train & rehab soldiers during WWI by canniblizing a hospital bed & box-springs. The result was a bed-like contraption that book-ended bodies-in-motion, providing alignment & balance while flowing through an unlimited variety of core-intensive, full-body moves customized to support, assist & be adapted to anyone's issues, goals & objectives.
Double rainbow yay, yay!
50-Min Reformer Classes: 6 students maximum, each on spring-loaded, gliding carriages with straps, pulleys, handles & loops, flowing through series of oddly fun, yet challenging moves.
COST: While, due to the extension training involved, Pilates Apparatus was designed be comparable in price to a massage session with an LMP, Trisha offers discounted packages and encourages clients to supplement their work on the equipment by attending her less pricy Pilates Mat Classes.
While Pilates Apparatus evolved at the turn of last century from Joseph Pilates as a young man bustin' up hospital beds & box springs to re-purpose into what he'd been envisioning as the epicenter of his method;...Pilates Mat on the other hand - while extremely important - had far more humble beginnings;...derived from moves & exercises Joseph was frequently seen frantically scribbling on random pieces of paper as "homework" for his students to independently supplement their Apparatus progress.
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50-Min Pilates Mat: No two classes are ever the same,...good for your brain & body! We provide everything; Pilates Mats (1/5" thick), Therabands, Leg & Arm Springs @ea wall-station, Stretchy Loops, Magic-Circles, Small & Large Balls, Foam-Rollers, Giant Rubberbands,... Prepare to have FUN & be forgiving while your body figures things out!
COST: Less than Reformer. Same Full-Cert required to keep you safe, while allowing your body to figure it out.
Pilates Mat
