What IS a Pilates body?

A Pilates body is.....NOT super model skinny; NOT muscley and sinewy. A Pilates body is a body that functions well, performs effortlessly and is pain free. That's it in a nutshell. Don't let the media or Hollywood celebrities tell you otherwise. Pilates was primarily designed as a body building technique back in the early 20th century to build a strong and balanced body that moved with grace and functioned with ease. A body that could withstand the wears and tears of a long and active life. Joseph Pilates was a nature lover and a student of movement. He intrinsically knew that animals remained healthier when they were active and quite rightly believed that humans should follow the same patterns. Thnink about a dog or cat when they rise from a nap. The first thing they do is stretch. Even before they lie down to sleep they have their own routine of decompressing and releasing the muscles so they are ready to sleep deeply. When, if ever, do humans do that. When, in fact, do many humans even make it off the couch. With the advent of modern technology the human race has become sedentary. A far cry from our hunter-gatherer forefathers. Although modern medicine keeps us alive into our 80's, 90'sand beyond there seems to be an ever increasing number of these seniors who's highlight of their day is having somone in a white coat bring them their tray of medicines while they waste away in a nursing hime bed. Pilates believed that we could all live a long healthy and active life if we simply followed his guidelines for daily exercise and breathing. In other words, move your body and move the air through your lungs in order to stay healthy and vital. His exercise program certainly makes you strong but it was designed on more of a fundamental level of simply making you alive and healthy. So remember that pilates is NOT about looking a certain way it is about feeling and acting a certian way. Who cares if I'm 75 and can't wear a bikini on the beach. I'm more interested in being 75 and walking the beach 3 miles a day and chasing after my great grandchildren! That's the Pilates body.