At the Welgemoed Pilates studio the main methods which are used to restore / improve movement and relieve chronic pain are:
The Welgemoed Pilates studio uses a variety of Iyengar props (wall ropes, bands, bricks etc.) and follow Iyeangar’s guidelines to assist and refine each asana.
Yoga teaches awareness and control to body and mind and that is what the method of Joseph Pilates is rooted in. Both methods are rich in depth and should be taught in their integrity, honouring the core principles.
Joseph Pilates was born in a small town in Northern Germany in 1883. As a young child he suffered from many ailments such as asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever which were the motivation for his quest to obtain good health and physical fitness. He studied both Eastern and Western forms of exercise, including martial arts and Yoga and later on achieved some success as a boxer and gymnast.
As he was working in England later on, he became interned during WWI along with other German nationals in a camp and began devising his system of original exercises which later became “Contrology”, it was the birth of his method. He was then transferred over to the Isle of Man and performed a nursing role and worked with many internees who suffered from wartime diseases and injuries. He began devising equipment to rehabilitate them by taking the springs from beds and designing exercise apparatus for the bedridden – he was determined to heal with movement. In 1918 millions of people died from influenza worldwide, tens of thousands in England. Not one of Joe’s followers succumbed even though the war camps were hit the hardest!
After WWI Joe returned to Germany but left in 1926 for New York as he was not happy with the political developments taking place. It was en route to New York that Joe met his wife, Clara who became an integral part in teaching his method.
Upon arriving in New York they opened up a gym in 8th Avenue in the same building as several dance studios and rehearsal spaces. It was this proximity that made “Contrology” such an intrinsic part of many dancers’ training and rehab work and many were sent to Joe to be rehabilitated. It was also during this time that Joe refined his method and all his studio apparatus and became a friend and teacher to such renowned dancers/choreographers as Ted Shawn, Jerome Robbins and Martha Graham, the latter even incorporated some of Joe’s exercises into her students’ lessons.
Joe died at the age of 87 after a fire broke out in the studio. His wife Clara continued to teach for another few years until his protege and successor Romana Kryzanowska took over the studio again in 1975.
Pilates is a system of strengthening and stretching exercises designed by Joseph Pilates (1883 – 1967). He studied Eastern and Western styles of exercises and developed a whole set of apparatus to perform his exercises on. His method consists of over 500 exercises! He realised the importance of engaging one’s mind to control the body and not just to perform empty choreography – concentration creates a deepening awareness of movement and oneself. Although the matwork repertoire consists of only 34 exercises, matwork classes on their own have grown in popularity due to convenience, costs and a group class environment, similar to yoga. However, practising only matwork does not nearly give the full experience of this amazing method!
The HTMC is equipped with all the Pilates apparatus, designed and manufactured by Basil, NYC. Basil is one of the finest craftsman and manufacturers in the industry and continues to supply apparatus of the highest quality. The HTMC is equipped with the following apparatus:
Classical Pilates, as taught in the HTMC, keeps the integrity of the method, honouring the core principles and stay true to the work of Joseph Pilates – the entire reason why the method became popular and has proven to be safe and effective in the first place.The method is rich in depth and consists of over 500 exercises – it is structured into a beginner, intermediate and advanced system and is a safe and effective way for everybody to get an individually tailored workout.Joseph Pilates called his method Controloy – The Art of Control, and he laid down 6 core principles which have to be honoured during practise:
The Pilates method is for everybody! But it has proven to be especially rehabilitative and bring relief in sufferers of:
The results and benefits of this discipline are for body and mind:
Hatha Yoga has existed in India for over 4000 years and is the basis of all Yoga. In the West Hatha Yoga is also known as gentle Yoga and is mainly known for physical postures (asanas) and breathing exercises (pranayama). In the last century other (modern) types of Yoga, such as B.K.S. Iyengar, Ashtanga Vinyasa (P.Jois), Bikram (hot yoga) etc. have stemmed from Hatha Yoga.Benefits of YogaOver the last 10 years, a growing number of research studies have shown that the practice of (Hatha) Yoga:
The distinct feature of Asthtanga is the precise sequence of asanas which are practiced energetically, dynamically and fluently, connected by ujai breathing. Apart from all the above benefits of Yoga, Ashtanga, being physically very challenging, increases stamina, strength and endurance, working the body’s aerobic system and helps the body to detoxify and cleanse.
Where Bikram or hot yoga relies on external heat to raise the body’s temperature, the primary Ashtanga series works with breathing and movement to raise the body’s temperature. It has a similar effect of increased (internal) body temperature which allows a deeper practice of the asanas and increasing perspiration.