Pilates believed that the whole body should work as an integrated unit and move with control, grace and fluidity.
Students say they feel stronger, taller, more energetic.
By centering around the abdomen, Pilates strengthens the muscles in the back, hips, and stomach to support the spine. It lifts your back and belly while it tones, lengthens and strengthens your other muscles. It improves alignment and breathing. Most important, it reconnects the body to its natural, ideal posture and strengthens all the muscles that help the body stand and move. Many of the exercises are done on the Universal Reformer and the Cadillac, specially designed apparatus that create variable resistances through a system of springs and pulleys that allow the muscles to work naturally and without strain.