Pilates is a structured program of over five hundred controlled exercises that employ the mind and condition the total body. It is a balanced mix of strength and flexibility training that reduces stress, improves posture and creates long, lean muscles.
The Pilates method of exercise is a system of gentle effective, whole-body conditioning and corrective exercises. It seems like everyone is either doing Pilates, or interested in starting a Pilates exercise program.
One of the best things about the Pilates method is that it works so well for a wide range of people. Dancers and athletes love it, as do seniors, people who at various stages of physical rehabilitation and women rebounding from pregnancy.
Pilates gets your mind in tune with your body. By emphasizing proper breathing, correct pelvic and spinal alignment, and complete concentration on smooth, flowing movement. You become acutely aware of where your body is in space, how it feels and how to control its movement.
In Pilates the quality of movement is much more emphasized than the quantity of repetitions. Learning proper breathing is vital, and
helps you execute movements with the utmost power and efficiency. By learning to breathe properly you can and will reduce stress.
In performing Pilate’s exercises you are training several muscle groups at once in smooth, continuous movements. By developing a proper technique, you can actually re-train your body to move in a safer, more efficient pattern of motion. Pilate exercises are invaluable in aiding in injury recovery, improving an athlete’s sports performance, promoting good healthy posture and maintaining optimal physical condition.
Conventional workouts tend to build short, bulky muscles. These types of workouts make the muscles much more prone to an injury. Pilates elongates and strengthens muscles, improving muscle elasticity and joint mobility. A body with balanced strength and flexibility decreases its chances of being hurt.
Pilate’s exercises are done on either a Pilates mat on the floor, or on exercise equipment. The workout equipment that is used in Pilates in general utilizes pulleys and resistance from your own body weight on the machine and graduated levels of springs. The Pilates reformer is probably the best-known piece of resistance equipment that you will encounter at a Pilates studio.
There are many styles of reformers. Some reformers are metal and some are wood. There could be leather straps or ropes, and the reformer may be on legs or flat on the floor. Even so, their functions and basic parts will be the same.
The Stamina Aero Pilates line has a reformer for everyone, from commercial-grade reformers to economical home models. Only Stamina reformers offer their patented Free-Form Cardio Rebounder, which is standard in several Aero Pilates Reformers.
It has been demonstrated that by using the Aero Pilates rebounder, you will reach and maintain a target heart rate as effectively as if you were executing a workout on a fitness treadmill. However, the low-impact Aero Pilates workout minimizes the shock and concussion to your back, hips, and legs.
No other exercise system compares to Pilates in being so gentle to your body while giving it a challenging and invigorating workout. Many of the exercises are performed in a sitting or reclining position, and most are low impact and in some measure weight bearing. Pilates is so safe, it is used in physical therapy facilities thru out the country to rehabilitate injuries.
Modifications to the Pilates exercises allow for you to experience a range of challenging exercises ranging from the beginner to the advanced. Get the Pilates workout that best suits you now, and increase the intensity as your body improves in strength and endurance.
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Click for our article about a recent Pilates study (must read!)