Question: I've heard of Pilates, but never tried it before. Some people say it is more like Yoga, but what are the roots of it? Is it based around the spirituality like Yoga? I'm looking for something less mind-capturing, without the chanting or meditation. As a matter of fact, I tried Yoga just for physical benefits, but it it wasn't quite something for me. Can you tell me more about Pilates?

Answer: Great question. Many people confuse Pilates with different other systems. You may also find that Pilates is integrated into other forms of training, both athletic, sports, recreational. Today, a course named Yogalates has even been developed... I'm not sure about the name, but I think Yoga deserves its natural name due to the whole mind-body connection.

Fitness Pilates is a method of exercise and physical movement designed primarily to stabilise the trunk (the “core”), producing more effective stretching, strengthening and balancing of the body. Through systematic practice of specific exercises coupled with focused breathing patterns, Pilates has proven itself invaluable as a fitness endeavour and an important adjunct to professional sports training.

It was developed in the 1920s by the German boxer, circus performer and exercise innovator Joseph Pilates, and began to gain a following when dancers he was working with discovered it could create long, lean muscles and a strong, streamlined physique.

Fitness Pilates can condition the body from head to toe with a no- to low-impact approach suitable for all ages and abilities. It requires patience, attention to detail with your body and consistent practice, but results are guaranteed to follow if one sticks at it and does it right. However, when practised incorrectly, Pilates routines can lead to pain and long-term injury – the very opposite of what its creator intended.

What happens is that people start practicing Yoga just for physical benefits, which is terrific on itself. And maybe what starts for one reason will continue for another. So, I think if you come to the full Yoga experience and it brings happiness into your life - the world will share that feeling with you. But if you are more consious about your physical body, then other forms of exercise are beautiful as well.

So, to sum up, Pilates is primarily centered around the 'core' area of the body.

What is this core that everybody talks about? Generally speaking, it is defined as “the body minus the legs and arms”. So, it is not just one muscle, or even one group of muscles. It is actually the basis or the foundation of all systems in the body- skeletal, muscular, digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, even endocrine and nervous systems.

Lying deep within the torso, core muscles stabilise the spine and provide a solid foundation for movement in the extremities. They generally attach to the spine, pelvis and muscles that support the scapula. So, when these muscles contract, we stabilise the spine, pelvis and shoulders and create a solid base of support. If you look at your body, every organ has its roots inside the torso, be it your stomach, your brain or your reproductive organs.

If you dedicate your time to core training with Pilates, you will not only develop functional fitness essential to daily living and regular activities, but boost your performance through the roof. As a bonus, you also correct injury-causing postural imbalances that can lead to injuries.