Learn about Pilates

Pilates is a series of exercises designed to improve flexibility and strength through a variety of stretching and balancing movements. It was developed by Joseph Pilates, a prisoner of war during the Second World War, and has become increasingly popular.

From when he was very young, Pilates took inspiration from the ancient Indian art of yoga, Zen Buddhism, and physical exercises of the Greek and Roman empires and conducted experiments that helped him gain strength.

Pilates introduced his exercises to the inmates of the German internment camp, helping them keep physically fit. He also introduced mat workout and physical exercise equipment made from bed springs.

Today Pilates has become particularly popular among dancers, athletes, celebrities and models, because in addition to helping to develop flexibility without causing a strain on the muscles, it also helps improve posture.

A regular Pilates regimen results in a flatter stomach and a thinner waist and thighs, as well as increasing mobility in joints. Like yoga, it also relieves stress and anxiety.

Chiropractic consultants recommend Pilates for strengthening the back and the spine. Physiotherapists also recommend Pilates, to those seeking rehabilitation after injuries to their limbs.

Pilates is also recommended for the elderly, people suffering from osteoporosis, and people who are overweight.

Pilates has become quite popular among athletes, dancers and actors because the workout improves not just the body but mind as well. Pilates balanced approach ensures that no muscle group is overworked and as a result the body works as an efficient, holistic system.

Pilates is for everyone – the young, the old, the sedentary, the athletic, and those who have a physical disability.

Pilates helps improve strength, tone, flexibility and balance, and makes the body less prone to injury. It reduces stress, relieves tension, and boosts energy through deep stretching.

It creates a stronger, more flexible spine, promotes recovery from injury, increases joint motion, improves circulation, heightens neuromuscular coordination, corrects muscle groups, enhances mobility, agility and stamina, and improves the look and feel of your body.


About the Author

Pilates Info provides detailed information about Pilates exercises, equipment, videos, classes, studios, certification, and more. Pilates Info is affiliated with Business Plans by Growthink.

Written By: Richard Romando

Every Pilates studio, health club, spa and fitness facility has its own training classes and programs. If you have a limited budget, it is a good idea to join a group class. This is a great, relatively economical place for beginners to start, and have fun. Using standing, sitting and recumbent positions, the instructor guides students through the various stretches and movements.

Ideally, group mat Pilates classes have a manageable student-teacher ratio, not more than fifteen students per teacher, so the instructor can monitor each individual’s form and progress. Separate classes are held for beginner, intermediate and advanced students.

With the coming of smaller, less-costly equipment Allegro, more and more fitness clubs are adding group Reformer classes to their program. Ideally each participant has some experience on a Reformer prior to joining a group class.

Students work through a sequence of Reformer choreography at the appropriate level in unison, with the Pilates instructor monitoring for safe and proper form.

The most effective way to learn, practice and perfect Pilates performance is to go for a personal training session, in which the instructor devotes undivided attention to a student’s specific needs. These sessions usually begin with a warm-up on the mat, but a variety of Pilates equipment can be explored as well.

Club and studios have Pilates classes themed around specific props like the balance ball, resistance band or the Pilates circle/ring. A small prop can add variety and a challenge to a group mat class, and expands the programming possibilities for a facility.

Some clubs and studios offer Pilates classes designed for those who golf, play tennis, or swim in the summer, while programs for skaters and skiers are popular in the winter.

Studio and clubs are also offering a blend of Yoga and Pilates as “Yogalates” or “Piloga”. Similarly, cycling and Pilates are being blended for a unique hybrid “Cyclates” program.


About the author:

Pilates Info provides detailed information about Pilates exercises, equipment, videos, classes, studios, certification, and more. Pilates Info is affiliated with Business Plans by Growthink.

Written By: Richard Romando

Creating an exercise routine that works both the mind and the body is missing from many gyms through out America. We seem to intensely focus on workouts that laser focus specific muscle groups or problem areas. Lately however, a revival has started with more and more focus being put on a way to synchronize our physical with the mental health.

Pilates Exercise is leading the way on this. Pilates exercise consists of over 500 specific exercises that performed with a handful of specially designed equipment. Named after its founder, Joseph Pilates, Pilates exercise concentrates on certain positions and movements that call upon the needed stress to keep the body healthy. Instead of weight lifting, Pilates use stretching and maintaining certain positions for a period of time to achieve results.

Pilates exercise is packed full of benefits, just a few of them are… 1. A Healthier Body – Pilates exercise are created to keep your body strong and flexible. Also because some of these exercises are also cardiovascular you also will improve your respiratory systems.

2. Fat Burning – Pilates will increase the heart rate and in turn your metabolism, which allows for your body to burn excess fats.

3. Improved Balance & Coordination – Pilates improves your coordination, as balance is always observed.

4. Posture – Your abdomen and back muscles will be strengthened, your spinal columns will gain strength and the end result will be your posture will improve, given the body control that is fostered by the Pilates program. Pilates exercise makes good use of these areas in most of the exercises it uses.

5. Stress Relief – Pilates is a great stress reliever. Exercise in general is a great way to reduce stress but because Pilates is not an extraneous workout at all, and will give the mind the chance to relax by focusing on the exercises without applying too much strain on you.

6. Easy to Do – Pilates is a very easy to get to regimen. Whether you are just starting out or have been doing it for years, you will have no problem adapting to the program.

7. Can Do Anywhere – Pilates exercise is great for busy people, in fact some routines only last for ten minutes, and these include the required daily Pilate exercises for a regular commitment to the program.

As you can see Pilates is a routine that anyone can easily begin and with all the amazing benefits that it promotes to help anyone achieve a healthy lifestyle, you would be smart to look at Pilates as an option to help you achieve a healthy and full life.


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Written By: JasonKatzenback

Pilates is a body fitness system that was developed in the twentieth century by J Pilates. He named the method The Art of Contrology, which references the way the motions promotes the use of the mind to control the muscles. It is an exercise system that centres on the core postural muscles that help keep the body balanced and are essential to providing support for the spine.

Pilates can aid in losing weight by toning your body and conditioning your muscles. Large people that need to lose weight may find it to be a great alternative to regular conditioning classes at the local gym.

There are 2 ways of doing pilates. Either on a mat on the floor or you can use the reformer machine. Both techniques requires trained pilates instructors to teach you individually or as part of a larger group.

This type of pilates exercise is great for older people as well as improving balance and flexibility and also great if you have arthritis or any other joint immobility problems.

In pilates exercises a totally new awareness is discovered while using the body mind connection to be able to perform the movement properly. The movements focus on strengthening the powerhouse muscle groups: your lower back, abdomen and buttocks and help you tone and lose weight in these areas as well.

The best part of all is that whatever your current fitness level or your muscle strength, any normal person can do pilates. It is a very safe method of exercise. The movements are based upon dance and yoga exercises and emphasises body alignment as well as body awareness the same way dance exercises do.

To keep your muscles flexible is of great importance if you are overweight. The more lean muscle mass of your total body composition you have, the more fat mass you will burn on a daily basis. If you don’t have the discipline to workout by yourself and lift weights to keep your muscle mass from disappearing completely, pilates is a great alternative.

If money is the option, mixing both might be what would fit your budget and your schedule to tone and shape your body effectively. Pilates is not for anybody who is trying to build size or increase muscle mass in any larger volume. Pilates is usually performed over hour long sessions.


About The Author

Article by John Glover of http://www.information-on-pilates.com ( The Pilates physical exercise information resource )

Written By: John Glover