STOTT PILATES – Pilates Modified For Your Safety & Comfort
Stott Pilates is a contemporary approach to the original Pilates method developed by Joseph H. Pilates. Stott Pilates modifies many of the original Pilates exercises, making them safer and more accessible to people, regardless of age or physical conditioning. It is pretty much a Canadian equivalent to Winsor Pilates. Stotts is perfect for everyone from young adults to the middle aged to the elderly and individuals rehabbing from sports related injury or chronic discomfort. Moira Stott-Merrithew, then a professional dancer with City Ballet of Toronto, sidelined by a foot injury, developed Stott Pilates after studying the Pilates method in New York with Romana Kryzanowska, who had learned the methods from Joseph H. Pilates himself. She opened the Stott Pilates Studio in 1988 after she studied and taught under Romana’s close watch for over two years. Her husband, Lindsay Merrithew, became her business partner in the arrangement and everything remains strong after 20 years! Over 2,000 students have been taught Stott Pilates through the Stott’s education division and there are over 70 instructional video titles in their library. Part of the reason that Stott’s exercises are popular is due to their conformability and therapeutic benefits. There was a point where Ms. Merrithew suffered from excruciating pain and discomfort from a bulging disk in her neck. She turned her focus towards studying the human anatomy and the science of exercise. She worked with experts in sports medicine and physical therapists to modify the Pilates exercise system that she had already learned. This ultimately helped make Stott Pilates safer and more effective in comparison to other forms of Pilates, which became a big selling point. Many sports teams or professional athletes find Stott Pilates a good addition to their workout regimen with weights or heavy cardiovascular exercise. The original exercises of J.H. Pilates are essentially broken down, allowing users to progress easier from one level of exercise to the harder exercises once their body builds up core strength and stability, balance and coordination. The Stott’s approach strengthens deep muscles around the spine and pelvis to allow a stable neutral position, which is the best spinal position for shock absorption or weight distribution. There is great focus on posture and spinal alignment, coordination and to avoid overworking already strong muscles. There is a slight variation in breathing patterns compared to traditional Pilates or yoga. The Stott Pilates website has DVD’s for purchase along with Power pack packages that include DVD’s and Pilates/yoga mats sold as sets. Stott also has a number of Pilates items available for purchase ranging from the fitness circle, foam rollers used to improve balance, rubber pads for cervical and lower back support, stability balls, toning balls, music and even a lightweight at-home SPX reformer! |
