Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 7, Issue 6, June 2003

Copyright 2003 Seattle Sun. Please feel free to use the article and photos below in your research. Be sure to quote the Seattle Sun as your source.

Once-'secret' Pilates gains popularity with fitness buffs

By JAMES BUSH

Exercise guru Joseph Pilates was a bit ahead of his time, says Louise Beckley of Lake City's Pilates Northwest.

You can say that again.

Once the professional secret of top ballet dancers, the exercise system that bears his name is now practiced by models, movie stars, and regular folks seeking better posture, muscle strength without added bulk, and a flatter stomach.

The Pilates method has a fascinating history, says Beckley. German-born gymnast Joseph Pilates began working to help rehabilitate bedridden soldiers during World War I. Using springs and straps, he designed a series of exercises to help patients increase their strength and flexibility without leaving their beds.

In 1926, Pilates opened a New York City exercise studio, which quickly became the destination for famous dancers, including Martha Graham and George Balanchine.

Far from the mindless repetition of calisthenics, Pilates exercises demand concentration and focus. A small change in foot position changes the focus to a different set of muscles, Beckley notes.

Beckley, a lifelong Seattleite, began private instruction in Pilates about four years ago and was impressed with her own results. As a certified Rolfer (a type of bodywork that realigns posture), she also saw Pilates as an activity she could recommend to her clients, as it also improves posture.

Beckley received her certification in Pilates through a local satellite program of the New Mexico-based PhysicalMind Institute. She still splits her time between Pilates Northwest and the Lake City-based Center for DFA and Rolfing.

While Pilates also includes floor or mat exercises, its purest form involves the use of equipment, says Beckley.

The most common machine is known as The Reformer, a wood framed, spring-loaded platform which resembles the hospital beds around which Pilates invented his exercise system. The user sits on a platform attached to tracks parallel to the sides of the bed and pushes, pulls, or stabilizes using a metal bar at the foot of the bed or leather straps at the head (with several detachable springs attached to the platform determining the amount of resistance).

The result is stronger muscles and greater flexibility, she says. "And the muscles become toned, but not bulky or tight."

Many participants use Pilates in conjunction with weight training and other exercises to tone and lengthen their muscles and avoid adding bulk or weight. Pilates also increases strength in the body as a whole, rather than concentrating on a single area or muscle group. "It's very different from the standard crunch at the gym," says Beckley.

Another major element of Pilates is breathing. At the start of a movement, the Pilates practitioner takes a deep breath through the nose and tucks their stomach, forcing the air into the chest. The breath is then forcefully expelled. This process not only exercises the abdominal muscles, but is credited with expelling stress.

Beckley and Pilates Northwest co-owner Jenny Wacker work with several contractors who provide instruction, both through individual sessions and small groups (generally with four or fewer participants). An average session runs about 55 minutes, and participants generally attend class once or twice a week (depending on the rest of their exercise regimen).

While you're unlikely to spot Julia Roberts or Madonna at Pilates Northwest, Beckley credits the celebrity factor with increasing Pilates' popularity. "It's very chic right now," she says. "I think one of the reasons is that it flattens the stomach. People like that it changes the waistline."