Types of Pilates

Pilates was developed by Joseph Pilates, and rather than being a cardiovascular workout, its emphasis is on balance by strengthening the core. It also deals with helping the body become more flexible so that it can move in graceful form. The types of Pilates include the original practice, Fletcher Pilates, Winsor Pilates and Scott Pilates.

Original Practice

The original practice focuses on controlled movement via a strong core. The idea is that if the core is weak, then movement of the rest of the body is not controlled and fluid. The original Pilates was developed using mat exercises, which very much resembled yoga, but Joseph Pilates also included various apparatus into the routine. Unlike yoga, Pilates is an exercise rather than a way of life.

Fletcher Pilates

Fletcher Pilates is a modified version of the original by focusing on breathing. This technique teaches that the exhalation of the breath is forced through in order to teach the student the correct way of breathing as well as being mindful of the current moment. This keeps the person in the present moment. Ron Fletcher was the creator of this version of Pilates.

Winsor Pilates

Mari Winsor created the very popular Winsor Pilates, which again is a modified version of the original. Mari emphasized on dynamic sequencing, which is basically a way to offer the body a workout that is calorie-burning but still a very low-intensity exercise. Therefore, the student has an ability to get the benefits of the original Pilates along with an actual workout that is easy on the joints and muscles of the body.

Scott Pilates

The Scott Pilates comes from Moira Merrithew, which like the Winsor techniques, takes the original Pilates and incorporates a physical fitness regimen to it. There are five principles to the Scotts Pilates, which include:

• Ribcage placement


• Breathing


• Cervical spine and head placement


• Scapular movement


• Pelvic placement

These five placements and movement principles are designed to help the body restore the natural curves of the spine and to rebalance the muscle groups that surround the joints, which in turn makes the body stronger. The scapular or shoulder stabilization has a lot of emphasis in this type of Pilates.