Pilates has proven itself for more than 80 years as an effective and safe method of exercise when taught and applied correctly. It has been the workout of choice for dancers, gymnasts and fitness enthusiasts for decades.

Pilates has proven itself for more than 80 years as an effective and safe method of exercise when taught and applied correctly. It has been the workout of choice for dancers, gymnasts and fitness enthusiasts for decades. Joesph Pilates was a genius well beyond his time, he didn’t just develop a brilliant approach to fitness that includes over 500 exercises; he also engineered all the equipment, specifications and tuning required to teach them properly. There is no debate that his original approach can work wonders when applied by a qualified instructor who understands how to develop and tailor an authentic Pilates workout specific to your body and capabilities. When applied correctly, it will make you look, feel and move better!

Joseph H. Pilates was born in Germany, in 1880. A sickly child who suffered from asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever, he dedicated his entire life to becoming physically stronger. Joe studied body building and gymnastics and by the age of 14 was fit enough to pose for anatomical charts. In 1912 he moved to England earning a living as a boxer, circus performer and self-defense trainer. During World War I he was interned with other German citizens in a camp near Lancaster where he trained other inmates in fitness and exercises. It was here that the beginnings of the True Pilates Method began to take shape. After the War, Pilates emigrated to the United States.

Contrology or Pilates may be just words to many people, but at Romana’s Pilates it’s the exercises and philosophies of Joseph and Clara Pilates that we teach, as handed down to protégé Romana and her daughter Sari. This is what we call “True Pilates.” Through True Pilates you first purposefully acquire complete control of your own body, and then, through proper repetition of its exercises, you gradually and progressively acquire the natural rhythm and coordination associated with all your mental and subconscious activities. True Pilates is designed to give you suppleness, natural grace and skill that will be unmistakably reflected in the way you walk, play and work. You will develop muscular power with corresponding endurance, ability to perform arduous tasks, to play strenuous games, to walk, run or travel for long distances without undue body fatigue or mental strain.

Adult Gymnastics at LifeSpan is a Gentle Gymnastics system that can introduce and reintroduce you to skills and fun. This class is small with supportive and nurturing supervision. We are not teenagers anymore so learning how to roll to back-bends, handstands, cartwheels and more, safely and with expert coaching and supervision is our specialty. Beginners with absolutely no training are welcome as well as those with limited training are welcome.

The centerpiece of Pilates work is performed on the Reformer (spring-based apparatus). The Reformer classes focus on the individual client and his/her physical needs. Springs work like our muscles, they expand and contract as resistance is applied to them. While on the various apparatus, whether lying, sitting or standing, spring-based equipment helps us to work symmetrically, thus creating a balance of muscle strength and flexibility in a very efficient manner.

In recent years the word Pilates worked itself into the mainstream, the direct result of an intellectual property lawsuit in which a US federal court ruled the term “Pilates” generic and free for unrestricted use. Search engine results are now in the millions as numerous organizations have entered the market to capitalize on the latest fitness trend and individuals across the globe look to benefit from Joe’s unique approach to health and fitness. As a result, consumers now face extensive and conflicting information about what Pilates is, how it works and what credentials they should seek in an instructor.