To celebrate, the newsletter is highlighting a couple of articles about “Pilates: The Man and The Method” and some of his inventions that you may never have heard of.
Wishing you a Happy Pilates Day ~
Every Day!
Pilates: The Man and The Method
Did you know that Pilates didn’t call his exercises Pilates? To find out what Mr. Pilates called his system, check out the article here.
Mr. Pilates thought his work was 50 years ahead of its time. And that proved to be true.
Pilates Day and the Lost Equipment
Even if you have practiced Pilates for a while, you may not have ever used a “breath-a-cizer” or a head harness.
Did you know Pilates even invented a bed!
If you would like to check out some of the more rare pieces of equipment, please read this short article here.
For a listing of events around the country and the world, please check out the schedule here.
The Lost Equipment
In honor of Pilates Day, I’m highlighting some of his inventions that are being lost to time.
You don’t see these pieces of equipment in too many studios.
You may never have even heard or seen some of this equipment before.
Though these pieces may not be well-known, you’ll be reminded of Joe’s creativity. He thought of everything! A genius ~
Breath-A-Cizer
As if there weren’t enough breathing exercises in Pilates already, Joe invented a gadget for breathing!
You blow through a straw and try to keep the metal pinwheel at the end turning. This device alone improves breathing but it could also be combined with exercises. For example, you could perform a standing roll down and up “one vertebrae at a time” while keeping the pinwheel turning during the movement.
Oddly, this equipment seems similar to a modern day spirometer. Though there aren’t measurements on the Breath-A-Cizer, the potential for improving breathing capacity appears similar.
The head harness wraps around the head and there is a spring attached. Depending on the placement of the head in the harness, the neck muscles on the front, back or side are strengthened. That’s one way to get your head on straight!
Yes, just like it sounds! Joe invented a bed to sleep in. The bed has two angles like a wide V-shape. It’s ingenious – if you sleep on your side you wouldn’t need to put a pillow between your knees as you could rest your leg on the angle of the bed.
As many of you know, the first Saturday of May is International Pilates Day. In the past, it had been a time to celebrate in large community gatherings. Obviously, it was a little different this past weekend.
Please enjoy this video from Balanced Body with greetings from around the world! If you have ever wondered what kind of exercises Pilates teachers make up on the equipment when they are bored, then wonder no more. (Do NOT try this at home!)
