Classical Pilates is a corrective exercise system of controlled movements using specially designed equipment and mat work to increase flexibility and strength in tandem so that they work together to create a healthy and harmonious body. Joseph Pilates understood that the body strengthens and repairs itself through movement. With an emphasis on the development of the core muscle groups (spine, abdominals, hips and lower back) his Classical Pilates method is a comprehensive head-to-toe workout.

When practised with consistency, Classical Pilates improves overall fitness by building both strength and flexibility and by developing control and endurance in the entire body. With a focus on stretching while strengthening, Classical Pilates improves flexibility, helping to prevent injuries. 

Every Pilates exercise focuses on proper alignment and uses the core muscle groups to power movement in the limbs, building greater core strength and promoting better posture. Through natural breathing Classical Pilates aids the body in cleansing toxicity while increasing abdominal strength and diaphragm mobility. Classical Pilates develops the often neglected muscles, balancing the entire body and improving coordination. Often the main benefit of Pilates is a strong and flexible spine.

Joseph Pilates believed physical fitness was the prerequisite to happiness. A consistent Classical Pilates practice has the power to create a deeply centred and grounded sense of body and mind while reducing stress.

The Franklin Method is a comprehensive training programme that provides a systematic approach towards learning and using imagery for improvement in sports, dance, and daily life performance by harnessing the transformative power of the mind. It starts with the knowledge that we have the power to change and that the way we live shapes the brain we develop.

The Franklin Method uses dynamic neurocognitive imagery (DNI), anatomical embodiment and educational skills to create lasting positive change in the body and the mind. The method teaches how any movement can become a beneficial exercise if performed with good function. It can be applied to all movement techniques and exercise regimens, including Pilates and yoga. The Franklin Method was developed by Eric Franklin in 1994 and is taught all over the world.

The Franklin Method teaches dynamic alignment and movement with maximum efficiency to keep the body youthful and energized. Rather than teaching a specific set of exercises, the Franklin Method is designed to work with other modalities and teaches how any movement can become a beneficial exercise if performed with good function. Through the use of imagery, benefits include increased power and efficiency of movement without risk of injury.

Classical Pilates and the Franklin Method are both beneficial for anyone interested in improving their overall fitness, coordination, flexibility and strength whether they are an utter novice or a professional athlete or performer. Consistent practice with the Classical Pilates method and or the Franklin Method can help one gain a greater sense of well-being and a more thorough integration of mind and body. Classical Pilates works on the fundamental principle of creating balance in the body: strength and flexibility in equal measure to create a healthy moving body. The Franklin Method teaches that any movement can become a beneficial exercise if it is performed with good function, rather than teaching a specific set of exercises. Both Classical Pilates and the Franklin Method can be adapted to suit any fitness level, including those rehabilitating from injury or recuperating after an illness. People have started Pilates in their eighties and nineties with remarkable results and mat work is suitable even for young children.

In the words of Joseph Pilates himself: "Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness. In order to achieve happiness, it is imperative to gain mastery of your body. If at the age of 30 you are stiff and out of shape, you are old. If at 60 you are supple and strong then you are young.” In the words of Eric Franklin: “Embodying function improves function.”

Beginners who have never taken Classical Pilates before will discover and feel muscles they never even knew they had simply by moving their bodies in new and novel ways. Under the guidance of their instructor, beginners learn the essential principles of Classical Pilates and discover how Pilates can help them reach their fitness goals.

For the experienced Pilates student or teacher a Classical Pilates session will enhance their overall understanding of Pilates as it was originally intended as well as deepen their regular workouts. All of the individual apparatus developed by Joseph Pilates were designed to help people gain the strength and flexibility necessary to do the extremely difficult mat work properly. Each apparatus supports the other and helps to target specific areas that may need more strengthening or more freedom.

Three times per week with an instructor is optimal for developing strength, technique and proper alignment of the body. As little as once per week with an instructor is good for maintenance. Even if you only take one private or semi-private session per week, you will begin to see improvement in your overall fitness. Ideally, studio workouts with an instructor should be augmented with exercise sessions at home, gym or office, preferably three to four times per week in total. Pilates and the Franklin Method are meant to be lifelong pursuits, helping to keep practitioners feeling youthful and invigorated. Both the Classical Pilates and Franklin Methods were created to be adaptable and to address the specific needs and problems of individual practitioners.

Pilates was originally created as a comprehensive total body workout for men by German-born gymnast and boxer Joseph Pilates. Tailored according to an individual’s personal needs and goals, Classical Pilates can help fine-tune a man’s performance whether he is a powerlifter or prepping for his first marathon. Most men who exercise frequently are strong, but their muscles may be incredibly tense. Pilates makes those tight areas more agile, more flexible and also makes many functional activities (things we do in our everyday routines) easier on the muscles and joints. Strengthening the core muscles which Classical Pilates targets so perfectly can help alleviate back problems and help develop a flat stomach, two things that top the list of many a man’s health and fitness wish list. Pilates alone may not build the muscle mass men desire, but it does complement other forms of exercise by helping to create a balanced body.

Many famous male professional and Olympic athletes have added Pilates to their training programmes in order to enhance their strength, coordination and flexibility by developing their core muscle areas.

Joseph Pilates originally developed his system of corrective exercises to help recuperating patients who were hospitalized and laying flat on their backs in bed. Classical Pilates is particularly useful for people who are in a rehabilitative mode and need a form of exercise that will not further traumatize their bodies. Pilates is invaluable in this instance in that it offers a means to gain strength, control and flexibility through gradual and incremental stages. As practitioners improve they can build upon their fitness level, increasing the level of challenge in a precise and controlled manner.

A recent article in Midwives Journal advocated for the Pilates method as a means of gentle, safe and controlled exercise during pregnancy and postnatal. Even if you have chosen to give up other more vigorous forms of exercise during pregnancy, Pilates can help keep you fit and strong. Pilates is also beneficial as a postnatal form of exercise for nursing mothers or any woman who needs to feel capable and resilient during these challenging periods in her life.