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| Instructor
Kathy Murphy and students |
If you're tired of the same old workout you can put
some pizzazz into your routine with Pilates (pul-LAH-teez). Joseph
Pilates, a gymnast, invented it more than 80 years ago as a way
for injured soldiers to begin their rehabilitation while still flat
on their backs in the hospital. He called the method of exercise
Contrology because of the focus on controlling the muscles.
After Joseph Pilates came to New York from Germany in the 1920s,
his method of exercise became popular with dancers. It was, in fact,
New York where Kathy Murphy, a former figure skater and professional
dancer, was first introduced to it. She now teaches a Pilates class
at Saint Joseph Health Center.
"Pilates improves strength, flexibility, balance, coordination
and tone. And the best part it, anyone can do this-from the very
physically fit to those not so fit," says Murphy. "But
you have to unlearn old movement patterns and learn new movement
patterns;"
The Pilates method draws from the Eastern philosophy of involving
the body and the mind. "It really complements Yoga and Tai
Chi," says Murphy. "We concentrate on stretching breathing
to strengthen the body's core or center." Pilates is a total
body workout. The end result is better posture and an increase in
the range of motion.
Murphy believes its best to learn Pilates from an instructor as
opposed to a videotape. "An instructor can see what you're
doing and help you make adjustments," she says, "a video
tape can't."
Although Pilates was designed so anyone could do it, it's not exactly
easy. Murphy says it takes six months to two years to become really
proficient. But, the good news, it doesn't take nearly as long to
see results. After about six to eight weeks you'll see a difference
in your body.
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