Pilates

Strengthen your body and soothe your soul with Pilates. At PAC you’ll find the most comprehensive Pilates program on the Peninsula -- and arguably the best in the Bay Area. We call it Pilates & Beyond. Enjoy complimentary Pilates mat classes each week, specialty workshops and private instruction in both Pilates and Gyrotonic. No other athletic club offers a Pilates experience as complete as this.

What Is Pilates?

Pilates is a specialized form of exercise influenced by yoga, gymnastics, dance and other forms of movement. It was developed in the early 1900s by Joseph Pilates. The exercises and movement sequences are performed on a mat or with specially designed equipment. The focus is on breathing patterns, posture and mind-body concentration.

Pilates can help you enjoy sports and daily activities with greater ease and decreased risk of injury. It conditions your entire body, stretching and strengthening muscles uniformly -- promoting balanced musculature, core control, flexibility and agility. The "Pilates body" features long, slender thighs and calves, a strong back, flat abdominals and firm buttocks.

Who Should Do Pilates?

People of all ages and physical conditions can benefit from Pilates. Olympic champions, professional athletes and fitness enthusiasts have all made Pilates an important aspect of their training. Because of its focus on gentle, noncompetitive physical conditioning, Pilates is also extremely useful for injury prevention, rehabilitation and special populations.

Pilates is most popular with people who want a change from hot, sweaty workouts. Many former aerobic dancers and Step aficionados say that Pilates has done more to change their appearance than anything else they have tried. Pilates students also claim that after a session they feel rejuvenated and refreshed.

To learn more about the Pilates & Beyond program at PAC, call 650.593.4900, ext. 310. Or e-mail pilates@pacclub.com.