As a child, German-born Joseph H. Pilates suffered from a multitude of illnesses resulting in muscular weakness. Determined to overcome his frailties, he dedicated his life to becoming physically stronger. He studied yoga, martial arts, Zen Meditation, and Greek and Roman exercises. He worked with medical professionals, including physicians and his wife Clare, a nurse. His experiences led to the development of his unique method of physical and mental conditioning, which he brought to the United States in 1923. In the early 1930's and 1940's, popular dance instructors and choreographers, such as Martha Graham, George Balanchine, and others, embraced Pilates’ exercise method. As elite performers, dancers often suffered from injuries resulting in a long recovery period and an inability for peak performance. Unique at the time, Pilates’ method allowed and encouraged movement early in the rehabilitation process, by providing needed assistance. It was found that reintroducing movement with nondestructive forces early in rehabilitation hastened the healing process. As a result, it was not long before the dance community at large adopted Pilates’ work.

More than 70 years later, Pilates’ techniques began to gain popularity in the rehabilitation setting. In the 1990's, many rehabilitation practitioners were using the method in multiple fields of rehabilitation, including general orthopedic, geriatric, chronic pain, neurologic rehabilitation, and more. Within the rehabilitation setting, most Pilates exercises are performed on several types of apparatus. The apparatus work evolved from Pilates’ original mat work, which was difficult as a result of the relationship of gravity on the body. On the apparatus, springs and gravity are used to assist an injured individual to be able to complete movements successfully, aiding in a safe recovery. Ultimately, by altering the spring tension or increasing the challenge of gravity, an individual may progress toward achieving functional movement.

Pilates-based rehabilitation is broken down into three areas: Assisted Movement, Dynamic Stabilization, and Functional Reeducation. Within each of these areas are many goals that are set to meet the client's needs to reenter the arena of sports or work from which the client comes.

The Pilates Studio has worked for many years within the community helping people understand their bodies and how they move.  Our clientele range from individuals focused on improving fitness levels as athletes to those who have rehabilitation or post-surgery issues.  We have proven ourselves with a long list of successes helping people after physical therapy is over. 

We have become a leader in this area as a “Post Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Center in the Upper Arkansas Valley”.

Our goal is to help clients incorporate core stability in every aspect of their lives:  how to stand, bend, rotate, lift weight and perform their jobs safely while maintaining a strong core to protect their spines, knees, ankles and hips.

Post-physical therapy rehabilitation strengthens the stabilizing muscles around the spine, from the tranversus abdominus to the multifidi muscles in the low back to the pelvic floor.  Building up a solid cylinder of muscle around the central spine helps protect it from shearing forces applied to the vertebrae, ligaments and discs.  Through specific exercises with Pilates equipment, we work to strengthen the ankles, knees, shoulders and hips to allow a strong range of motion during walking, running, skiing and a wide variety of activities.

Our instructors who work in the rehabilitation area are Pilates Rehabilitation Certified.

Check out these websites for further information about Pilates and rehabilitation:                             http://www.pilates.com/resources/librarydocs/Intro-pilates-rehab.pdf                                               http://www.pilates.com/BBAPP/V/about/library/articles/pilates-effective-for-injury-rehab.html