Pilates Exercise At ALTA What is Pilates? Do regular exercise classes intimidate you? Are you having trouble initiating an exercise program? Will your lower back corrections not hold? Pilates is the answer for you! While a Pilates practice might not solve all of your health problems, Pilates can help you stand taller, feel stronger and more centered. Pilates is a method of exercise and controlled movement designed to stretch, strengthen and balance the body. The German born athlete, Joseph H. Pilates, developed the Pilates exercise concepts after 20 years of self-study and apprenticeship in Yoga, gymnastics, and ancient Roman and Greek physical regimes. He created his innovative approach, which he called Contrology, in the early 1900's combining Eastern and Western philosophies of physical and mental conditioning. Pilates continues to evolve today. Focused breathing patterns, combined with specific, precise movements, allow participants to practice mindful movement that produces calm and clarity. In our stressful lives, enjoying an exercise form that promotes mental and physical harmony is essential to rehabilitation after an injury. The concept of strengthening the core is not new in the world of Physical Therapy and is a perfect complement to the other treatments offered at ALTA. Pilates is adaptable, not only for an injured population, but also for those interested in physical and mental conditioning for high level physical performance. Everyone, no matter what shape, can benefit from the core strength, clarity, balance and ease of motion offered through Pilates. How Do I Get Started? To learn the basic principles, you will be scheduled with a Pilates Instructor for a one-hour individual session. The initial assessment will enable your instructor to develop a program based on your individual needs, challenges and goals. Pilates' machines - the reformer, the Cadillac and the low chair - help you maintain alignment and can be adapted to your specific exercise needs. A home exercise program will complement the equipment-based exercise to help you continue independently. People of like abilities, once they have mastered the basic exercises, can join a rehabilitation or fitness class. We have something for everyone!! How Is Pilates Different At ALTA? The Alta Pilates Studio is owned, directed and supervised by licensed Physical Therapist (PTs) - medical professional recognized as movement and exercise specialists. Our instructors are either PTs or certified professionals, trained in rehabilitative Pilates exercise. Alta's team approach to treatment is the key to our success. A combination of manual treatment by a PT and core stabilization exercise with a Pilates Instructor is effective in increasing function and decreasing pain. Working together, we can determine the best treatment sequence for a speedy and complete recovery. Attention to detail and commitment to continuing education enables our instructors to find and fix even the smallest movement dysfunction - everyone, from a senior citizen with balance problems to a highly trained athlete, can benefit from our discerning evaluation and exercise prescription. Also, we offer small rehabilitation classes to help you fully recover from an injury. Once you are on your way to developing competence in Pilates, a class can be a way to exercise and have fun at the same time. How Can It Help? When practiced faithfully, Pilates yields numerous benefits. The focused breathing alone helps increase lung capacity and improves circulation. You will naturally develop a deeper appreciation for the way your body was designed to move. You will be stronger, with better balance and posture. As posture improves, so does confidence. Pilates is based on six main principles: Concentration: connecting the body and mind Centering: initiating exercises with contraction of the deep abdominal muscles. Control: being in control of every aspect of each movement Precision: striving to produce exact movements every single time. Fluidity: smooth, flowing movements Breathing: breathing fully and efficiently.
		Alta Physical & Complementary Therapies 2955 Baseline Road Boulder, CO 80303 Phone: 303.444.8707 Fax: 303.444.8109 © This material is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission