Learn about Pilates

It’s a common misconception that Pilates method exercise is really only good for strengthening and stretching the core muscles of the body. Many people use it to tone their abs and improve their posture but, in reality, Pilates can do much more than that. In fact, when combined with an aerobic “cardio” exercise component (e.g., jogging or Spinning) Pilates can provide you with a fantastic full-body conditioning workout! Pilates Exercises for Strength-Training

Many Pilates exercises are great muscle-toners that work large muscle groups beyond just the abs and lower back. The Plank position, for example, effectively works the chest and triceps muscle groups. Leg kicks work the glute and hamstring muscles very well. Free squats are one of the best lower-body exercises around, working the quadriceps, the hamstrings, and the glutes. And don’t think these are “sissy” strength-training exercises. Many of the world’s top martial artists practice them on a daily basis to toughen their bodies and reduce the chance of getting hurt.

Pilates Equipment

When it comes to workout equipment, it’s hard to beat Pilates devices like the Reformer and Wunda chair. Not only do they stretch and strengthen muscles — providing great full-body conditioning — but they “teach” you how to use the different parts of your body together efficiently. Efficient body movement is a key to great overall fitness, injury prevention, and high-level sports performance. Portable Pilates equipment like resistance bands and the Pilates circle are also effective fitness tools. They’re inexpensive, easy to travel with, and can easily be incorporated into many of your current muscle-conditioning routines for increased benefits.

Mind-Muscle Benefits

The muscle-control and mental-focus gained from doing Pilates on a regular basis can help you in all areas of fitness. This is one reason why so many professional athletes are now taking Pilates classes. Few exercise system help you to coordinate your mind and body as well as Pilates. The benefits of this coordination are increased strength, improved posture, alleviation of pain, improved mental focus, and (obviously) improved physical coordination… to name just a few!

Putting It All Together

Simply put, Pilates exercise is a highly-effective method of total-body conditioning. No, it won’t put slabs of new muscle on your body. But it will make the muscle you have look great, while providing an array of benefits that typical weight-training can’t give you. Throw in some good cardio training and you’ve got a complete solution for great fitness and health!


About the Author

Jamie Clark is a fitness expert, researcher, and “health nut” who enjoys Pilates exercise and writes for PilatesMethodExercise.com. For more great Pilates exercise articles visit: http://www.pilatesmethodexercise.com/blog/category/pilates-articles/

Written By: Jamie Clark

One of the main benefits of Pilates is it refreshes your physical and mental well-being. Pilates is a series of controlled movements that unite the body and mind and creates a direct connection to the muscles.

The benefit of Pilates is it helps condition your body without punishing it. It is designed to stretch and strengthen muscle without adding bulk.

The Pilates abdominal exercises require mental concentration along with coordinated breathing beginning in the body’s core (abdomen, back and buttocks) to build a balanced strength and agility in your body.

Joseph Pilates, a legendary physical trainer, developed this exercise system in the 1920’s. Pilates routines can benefit men and women of any age no matter what physical condition you are in.

It was designed for people who recognize the importance of providing a firm support system for the spine. Pilates movement places its focus on the body’s core. It works the deep muscles in the body creating a strong center.

Pilates is more precise movements rather than a lot of repetitions of an exercise. It adds heightened body awareness and control because the mind engages the body during movement. Controlled breathing accompanies that movement.

One of the exciting aspects of Pilates is that almost anyone can do it. There is no bouncing, jarring or stress to your body and it can be done almost anywhere at anytime.

Some of the Pilate routines take less than 10 minutes and are ideal for people who say they don’t have enough time to exercise. Who can’t squeeze in 10 minutes out of your day to improve your health and well being?

Some of the basic principles of the Pilates philosophy include concentration and control. The emphasis is on the quality of the movement and not the number of repetitions.

Pilates movement also includes centering and breathing which focuses attention to the body’s core and breathing properly to oxygenate the entire body and cleanse it of impurities.

Pilates teaches balance and control of the body and mind, strengthens bone density while improving muscle strength, flexibility and posture. With Pilates you can even train the mind to relax and control stress.

You create the ability to maintain proper posture, increase joint range of motion, acquire a flat lean stomach, improve circulation, have more stamina and better coordination.

The Pilate movements start, stay and end in the core. The benefit of Pilates are both emotional and physical. Pilate routines help you achieve inner awareness and calm along with a sense of mastering the mind and body.


About the Author

Copyright 2005 Treadmill Info.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by http://www.treadmill-info.com where you will find valuable information, ratings, reviews, articles and buying tips before you make the investment in quality fitness equipment. For more fitness related articles go to: http://www.treadmill-info.com/articles_1.html

Written By: Gary Gresham

Being a very popular fitness program, Winsor Pilates is not impossible to create another breakthrough in the fitness industry. Winsor Pilates having achieved a great number of unexpected clients, still continue to attract people with its videos and successful Winsor Pilates reviews.

Winsor Pilates reviews, being the focal point of the discussion in this article, mostly contain comments, whether positive or negative, about the unmatched performances of conditioning and shaping the body fit from head to toe that the Winsor Pilates offered. We cannot deny that in a certain explanation, the presence of pros and cons is always evident.

So with that, some of the Winsor Pilates reviews mostly vary from the most positive to the least negative. And some Winsor Pilates reviews have much positive comments than negative. Well, it just somehow shows how great the Winsor Pilates works.

Some of the Winsor Pilates reviews contain information and proofs that the Winsor Pilates really works. In most Winsor Pilates reviews, the adjectives like challenging, great, fun, etc. are the most commonly found support for the claim that Winsor Pilates is the best fitness program the industry ever made. Most of those Winsor Pilates reviews indicate that the Winsor Pilates really tones the body and especially good at working the abs. Winsor Pilates clients claimed that when they tried Winsor Pilates their abs became tighter than ever been before. They also feel toned in the leg area, especially the quads. However, most of the Winsor Pilates reviews claimed that none of the moves really targets the arms. Comment like Winsor Pilates strengthens the abdominal and back muscles of the body is common in most Winsor Pilates reviews. Others also noted that Winsor Pilates is similar to yoga in that paying so much attention to the body kinesics forces the Winsor Pilates takers to let go of stressful thoughts and feelings.

However, those stated claims above are just among the positive comments made by most Winsor Pilates takers, other comments fall to the negative category. Aside from stating positive manners of Winsor Pilates, many Winsor Pilates reviews also noted that the Winsor Pilates is very much expensive and the instruction can seem wordy. It does not really support the claim that by doing the Winsor Pilates tapes alone, you can totally melt away the pounds and the inches. Some of the Winsor Pilates reviews stated that Pilates still need to be incorporated into a well-balanced routine, including plenty of aerobic exercise and a healthy diet.

Whatever the case may be, it is just natural to know that those Winsor Pilates reviews available have positive and negative sides on them and are just modes of expressions.


About the Author:

Evan Chloe, author, is a fitness specialist who writes articles for http://www.bodybuildingdirect.com

Written By: Evan Chloe