“The Pilates Method teaches you to be in control of your body and not at its mercy.” — Joseph Pilates

What is the Pilates Method?

The Pilates Method is a set of exercises on Pilates Apparatus or just the mat that  will help us become stronger in body through body weight resistance or apparatus resistance; Pilates  helps us balance our muscles so we do not overuse muscles and then injure ourselves. Pilates will help us move well and prevent injury/re-injury, it will help us manage conditions such as, and nor limited to, Osteopororis, back pain, shoulder, hip and knee injuries,  spinal conditions, Osteoarthritis or Arthritis, by enabling us to move well and move safely.

To quote “In 1912 Pilates lived in England working as a circus performer, boxer and self-defence instructor. During the First World War, he was interned with other German nationals. During this time he developed his technique of physical fitness further, by teaching his fellow internees. During the latter part of the War, he served as an orderly in a hospital on the Isle of Man where he worked with patients unable to walk. He attached bed springs to the hospital beds to help support the patient’s limbs, leading to the development of his famous piece of equipment known as the 'Cadillac'. Much of his equipment, although slightly adapted, is still in use today in many Pilates Studios.” ~"Pilates Foundation.". http://www.pilatesfoundation.com/.

The origins of Pilates and Pilates Equipment is in Rehabilitation/corrective exercise and is targeted for the body as a whole being, not components or areas on their own. Every part of the body is related and anything not working in one area may affect another part of the body, hence Pilates looks at relationships between body parts for e.g. the muscles, the bones and the fascia, and  are not treated in isolation.

In the Pilates Studio every body is allowed to experience release and strength appropriate to the body presented, the Pilates studio looks at inclusivity of the whole body and brings awareness of body as a whole being to the forefront of your experience. The specialised equipment used primarily by Professional Pilates Instructors is primarily used for rehabilitation and caters for any ability of client. Pilates equipment uses resistance for the benefit of challenging or assisting client stability, with client awareness and ability at the forefront. Over the years companies such as BalancedBody  and PilatesEquip (TM) in Australia  have undergone significant design and have taken into account safety of client and functionality of equipment.

There are many articles on the effectiveness of a Pilates Practise on the internet,so briefly as a definition Pilates is a movement practise that is safe and utilizes self awareness, precise movement,  control, breath, flow and alignment. Pilates is the development of targeted body self awareness, strength and flexibility of a body over time. Pilates incorporates movement that is pain free and utilizes movements particular to the body that is doing Pilates.

Pilates takes into consideration client safety, an individual bodies own anatomy, and muscle recruitment patternings. The Pilates Method helps develop efficient movement patterns within a body.  Movements that balance muscles holistically and off-load overworked joints. Initially clients may attend a Pilates Studio because of injures or rehabilitation, and then progress to a maintenance program, or Pilates may be used for a sports specific reason.

Pilates in a studio with a Professionally qualified instructor is for anyone any everyone, but always the body presented in a studio is treated as an individual, a whole being rather than focussing just on any particular area, as always remember the body is a connected being and to move and move well the body is approached with inclusivity. To enable individual focus a Pilates studio only sees small groups or Private clients.

To find out more about the Pilates Method please visit:

• What is Pilates?
• Pilates Research
• BASI Research
• Pilates Method History
• Bio-Intelligence and Pilates

Pilates at ShanthYogaPilates

Pilates takes into consideration client safety, an individual bodies own anatomy, and muscle recruitment patternings. The Pilates Method helps develop efficient movement patterns within a body.  Movements that balance muscles holistically and off-load overworked joints.

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“Concentrate on the correct movement each time you exercise, lest you do them improperly and thus lose all vital benefits.”

~Joseph Pilates

Vrinda has experience with clients that require maintenance, sports specific Pilates or those clients that are looking for long term rehabilitation for non-complex Medical conditions that are not acute and have undergone Medical clearance from a Medical Practitioner if need be e.g. ongoing rehabilitation, pregnancy, arthritis, medical/spinal conditions, sports injuries e.g knee, shoulder, hip etc.

 In order for a Specific Pilates Program to be written for your own body every client previously unseen by me in the Pilates Studio,  is first seen at the studio with an Initial Consultation appointment.Your Studio Initial Consultation will assess your own muscle patternings based on your movement patterns. Your initial consultation will allow your instructor to develop a plan specific for your body. It is imperative that you disclose any prior or current relevant injuries or conditions to your instructor at your Initial Consultation. Your information will not be disclosed, unless you consent to sharing of information with a Medical professional.

Vrinda has a Diploma of Professional Pilates Instruction(1053NAT) (PITC). A PITC training is a comprehensive Pilates Method training where many exercises remain the same as taught by Joseph Pilates (Classical Pilates), however,  some exercises and class structure have been adjusted in line with modern exercise science research.

Qualified PITC Instructors are fully equipped to read a particular body from the way it moves, listen and work with you and help you use Pilates in everyday living in order to enhance your own day to day functional movement. Instructors are directly in the teaching line of Joseph Pilates.

Variety of Pilates teachings

A genuine Professional Pilates/Pilates Method instructor will look at your own specific muscle patternings as a whole body ( may be following an injury or sports specific etc etc ) and then uses exercise based on your own movement patterning, so you can then move efficiently and  reduce the chances of re-injuring. With regular Pilates sessions you will be challenged with Pilates exercises that are mindful of your own safety, stability and Pilates ability. The teaching also includes teaching Pilates as rehab - clinical Pilates for non acute Pathologies.

All Pilates Training can be categorized into Pilates Exercises ( movement) or a genuine Pilates Method training.But unfortunately everyone is referred to as a "Pilates" Instructor. ShanthYogaPilates Pilates Method Qualification is a government accredited qualification. Vrinda, your instructor, is  fully registered with a Professional Pilates Body Australian Pilates Method Association (APMA) as a Level 2 Instructor, and attends regular Pilates workshops, local and international presenters, in order to keep abreast of the changes in the Pilates world and exercise science relevant to current time. She also has a Diploma in Yoga so brings additional Somatic awareness into your Pilates Practise.

 The genuine Pilates Method training has been in existance ever since Joseph Pilates started training the Pilates Method. There are many excellent, Pilates teacher training programs available. Most of these certification programs require at least one year of study and a significant amount of studio experience in addition to the applicant's preparedness through prior study and ongoing Pilates specific workshops/study.

Once well qualified and registered with  APMA (Pilates regulation body in Australia) or PAA (Pilates Alliance of Australasia),  Pilates Method Instructors are required to regularly attend relevant Pilates workshops and conferences inorder to keep Pilates and Movement Science knowledge current and registration current. Vrinda has completed additional accredited Pilates Workshops for Neurological Conditions and Pilates e.g. Stroke, MS, Parkinson’s etc.

The following are links to research specific to the Pilates Method

Pilates Method Research References

APMA Position Paper

Pilates Instructor Education Standards

Selection of Professional Pilates Method Research Articles

This section is updated regularly with research articles concerning the Pilates Method, (Reference: Pilates Science)