Raising Wellness is the natural health blog of Dr. Zachary Ward, a 
There are fitness routines. There are exercise fads. And then there is Pilates. For over 100 years, the work of Joseph Pilates has been changing minds and bodies while many thousands of other exercise products and regimens have come and gone.
I have to admit I’m a fan of Pilates. Pilates aims to improve human movement, body balance, and neurological coordination through fitness challenges with specific movements, often with resistance. It has its similarities to upper cervical chiropractic care, and works well within a chiropractic lifestyle. Practiced with good form, Pilates usually keeps the spine in a neutral position, reducing the likelihood of spinal injury.
I got together with Trent McEntire of McEntire Pilates in Rochester, Michigan in order to find out why Pilates is still relevant to everyday people who are looking to improve their lives with a sound body.
Why do Pilates? Why should the general public care about Pilates? Why should exercise and health enthusiasts
McEntire: Three reasons:
- Pilates is a true antidote to the demands of life.
- Pilates is a way to overcome the negative side effects that life’s stressors have on the body.
- Pilates creates a better quality of life.
I see my staff and I as a key member of our client’s health team. We regularly work with Physicians, Chiropractors, Massage Therapists, Occupational and Physical Therapists, Naturopaths and more. Our communication with these professionals within our client’s care circle results in a more thoughtful and in-depth experience.
Joseph Pilates developed his system for mind and body coordination well over 100 years ago. Why do you think Pilates remains relevant when other exercises systems have fallen by the wayside?
McEntire: Pilates remains relevant is because it works!
It works by improving how the body looks, feels and moves everyday. We design sessions around a client’s specific needs and goals. Gathering information and assessment are key to the relevancy of Pilates. Pilates provides you with the opportunity to move your body in ways that creates strength, balance, range of motion and reduced stress. If an exercise system has fallen by the wayside, I would speculate it was not created to accommodate specific goals and works with a limited population of people.
Pilates is for everyone and for me and my staff, we work to address the needs of the widest population possible.
How did you discover the work of Joseph Pilates?
McEntire: As someone that became a professional dancer after rehabilitating my own severe movement restrictions established at birth due to Cerebral Palsy, I understand how the quality of life is affected by how well you can (or can’t) move your body.
At the height of my pain and movement limitations, I made discoveries that would forever improve my situation and eventually help other people reach their individual goals and overcome their own movement limitations.
For the last 13 years, I have been applying my discoveries about the natural physics of the body, key movement principles and physical alignment correction techniques to the program that Joseph Pilates pioneered over 80 years ago.
McEntire Pilates is a modern Pilates program that supports the millions of people that fall into a gap between physical therapy and fitness.
What makes your application of Pilates’ principles unique? What makes McEntire Pilates work?
McEntire: Our mission is to change lives everyday. I have specialized in prevention, performance and recovery since 1998. My additions to the work of Joseph Pilates are designed to make movement and health applicable to a broader population of people.
My staff and I have over a decade of experience with injuries, movement limitations and neurological disease for adults and youth. We apply the latest science and movement techniques and state of the art equipment to our client’s customized programs. Our entire team has experienced injury and limitations which means we can sincerely empathize with your situation while knowing how to provide tangible solutions. We have the education necessary to provide an unexpected level of care and support.
There are 4 key ways that we help our client reach success
- Safe and effective exercises specific to your individual needs
- Exercises modified to accommodate special needs and goals
- Proper breathing techniques, body mechanics and movement principles
- Appropriate challenge without pain or unnecessary fatigue
Further reason’s to why McEntire Pilates works is because our training and experience is based on the fact that every movement and function of your body is a result of your brain having a map of how to function when called upon. This is true for the simplest to the most complicated movements. By knowing how your brain naturally works we are able to assess what is needed to improve your brain map. By strengthening the neurological pathways in the brain, you will experience higher function, more balance, less pain, better sleep, increased endurance and athletic performance, more flexibility and less stress.
What is your vision for the future of Pilates?
McEntire: My vision for the future of Pilates is that is will grow in popularity while gaining sophistication though higher national education requirements. Additionally, I see Pilates professionals continuing to earn the respect among the healthcare community because Pilates supports all abilities, conditions and ages. Our youth program is growing in popularity and it is exciting to see where that will be in the coming years.
How can someone explore Pilates in your studio?
I would invite everyone to give us a call at 248-651-5567 to let us know you would like to come in and look around. We love to tell people what we do and how we can help them.
