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Pilates

Build whole-body strength with Pilates

Pilates is a type of physical activity that aims to build strength, stability and flexibility. It’s considered a low-impact exercise that involves muscular strength and endurance movements. The Pilates method suggests that an imbalanced body can lead to muscular weakness, and in turn limit a joint from achieving its full range of motion. 

Pilates will make you stronger, improve your balance and increase your awareness of your body and how it moves. By strengthening your core, it has shown to help reduce pain and discomfort of the lower back. Developing whole-body strength can help improve performance in other sports and physical activities. Benefits of Pilates include:

Mardi Watson during a reformer pilates session with a QSMC client

Exercise that supports quality over quantity

Pilates exercises have a large focus on strengthening the core. It’s the foundation for developing stability through the torso and assists spinal and pelvic alignment. Performing functional movement patterns trains your muscles to develop evenly. The Pilates method, unlike other physical activities, prioritises quality over quantity. Each movement is usually performed with fewer repetitions. Instead, there is an emphasis on the execution of movement and breathing technique.

Breathing is an important aspect of practising Pilates. It’s encouraged to exhale and inhale fully to rid of stale air and flow fresh oxygen through the lungs. Improved breathing and air circulation, allows the body to function at its most optimal level.

Movements practised in a Pilates class work many parts of the body in many different ways. Functional movements that are used through Pilates sessions include pushing or pulling motions. You may be asked to perform these movements in a lying down, sitting or standing position. Your Pilates instructor will help you perform these movements with correct form and control.

"You will feel better in ten sessions, look better in twenty sessions, and have a completely new body in thirty sessions."

Joseph Pilates

Our Pilates classes

Pilates is recommended around the world as one of the best forms of rehabilitation treatment. Some of the first people to be treated by Pilates were injured soldiers returning from war. However, Pilates is becoming increasingly more popular among fitness advocates and athletes.

Pilates performed for exercise, or as part of rehabilitation, have huge differences. At QSMC we provide Pilates classes for both exercise and rehabilitation purposes. All classes are run by our Physiotherapists or Exercise Physiologists. We run the following types of classes:

Two QSMC clients during a pilates session with Physiotherapist, Mardi Watson

Frequently Asked Questions

Pilates and Yoga are both recognised for their numerous health benefits. They’re both low-impact and low intensity workouts, making them incredibly inclusive compared to other forms of exercise. Yoga is more focused around developing flexibility, stability and connecting oneself to the body. Pilates on the other hand, is much more about building strength and stability, and is used for physical rehabilitation.

We recommend wearing comfortable clothing, but nothing too loose, and socks. We also suggest bringing a water bottle and a small gym towel. Avoid wearing dangling jewellery as it may interfere with the reformer apparatus.

No, it is not a requirement to be fit to join a Pilates class. With our small group and 1 on 1 classes, exercises are able to be modified to accommodate each individual’s ability.

This will depend on the type of injury you have. In some cases, Pilates is recommended as a form of rehabilitation post injury. You should speak with your Physiotherapist before participating in a Pilates class to ensure it is safe for you to do so.

Book a Pilates session with us!

If you would like to book in to do a Pilates class with us, please let us know! We can be reached on the contact details below.  

Woolloongabba Gym

6/8 Trafalgar Street, Woolloongabba

Adaptable to all fitness levels

Whether you’re thinking about just starting Pilates for the first time, or have previous experience – we’re able to accommodate exercises to each individual’s capabilities.

Principles of Pilates

Centering

Bringing your focus to the centre of your body, also known in Pilates as the powerhouse. This is the area between your lower ribs and pubic bone. This area of your body powers all Pilates movements.

Concentration

Concentration promotes the connection of mind and body. By giving each exercise your full attention and commitment, Pilates states that you’ll obtain maximum value from each movement.

Control

Every exercise should be performed with complete muscular control. Each exercise requires conscious and deliberate movement. With proper control, you’re using the correct form, leaving no part of your body unattended.

Precision

Awareness should be sustained throughout each movement to ensure proper execution of technique. In Pilates, the movements have specific placements for each body part with There is also a heavy focus on proper alignment and core engagement.

Breath

The Pilates method has a heavy focus on breathing technique. Full breaths should be taken to pump the air fully in and out of the body. Most of the Pilates movements are coordinated with the breath.

Flow

Pilates is known for its fluidity and graceful movements. The energy of the exercise should always be performed from the powerhouse of the body. This connects each part of the body to move in a single motion.

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