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kept their cohorts moving with his routines. They stayed healthy! His reputation preceded him and when he returned to Germany he assisted with rehabilitation of soldiers. While he was working on rehabilitation, he was also training boxers, his true passion.
In 1926 Pilates moved to the United States and decided to settle in New York City. He was quickly sought out by dancers because his exercises and equipment helped them recover from injuries much faster than other methods. This is where the dancer reputation began, but he stayed true to his roots and always loved boxing. In the beginning he called his method “Corrective Exercise” and subsequently “Contrology”. Even though Joe was a pioneer in fitness ahead of his time, he was a prolific inventor. Pilates had been developing equipment to assist in training himself and others. It started when he was rehabilitating soldiers in Germany, and he continued to improve his designs. The most famous and versatile piece of Pilates equipment is called the Reformer. Also commonly used is the trapeze table, or “Cadillac," spine correctors/barrels and Pilates chairs. Almost all of Pilates equipment uses springs to create resistance. The chair is the most compact piece of equipment and was initially developed so that people could have a piece of equipment that would fit in their crowded New York apartments! All Pilates equipment has a specific benefit and can be used for a multitude of exercises.
Exercise and the Direct Connection to Mental Health
Now that you have a brief overview of where Pilates comes from, I will return to the list of how exercise directly impacts mental health. First, increased neurotransmitter activity, also called neuroplasticity. This is by far the most fascinating and scientific aspect of Pilates. It also connects directly to PTSD symptoms and treatment, since PTSD creates
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