Pilates can really make a difference in your health without taking a toll on your body. It is a refreshing mind-body workout. By emphasizing proper breathing, correct spinal and pelvic alignment, and concentration on smooth, flowing movement, you create a greater awareness of your body. You actually learn how to control its movement.
In Pilates the quality of movement is valued over quantity of repetitions. Proper breathing is essential, and helps you execute movements with maximum power and efficiency. And, learning to breathe properly can reduce stress.
A lot of conventional workouts tend to work the same muscles. This means weak muscles tend to get weaker and strong muscles tend to get stronger. The result is muscular imbalance - a primary cause of injury and chronic back pain. Pilates conditions the whole body, even the ankles and feet. No muscle group is over trained or under trained. Your entire musculature is evenly balanced and conditioned, helping you enjoy daily activities and sports with greater ease, better performance and less chance of injury. Many professional sports teams and elite athletes now use Pilates as a critical part of their training regimen.
Many of the exercises are performed in reclining or sitting positions, and most are low impact and partially weight bearing. Pilates is safe. Pilates is also an extremely flexible exercise system. Modifications to the exercises allow for a range of difficulty ranging from beginning to advanced. Get the workout that best suits you now, and increase the intensity as your body conditioning improves.
New to Pilates and wondering how to get started? Visit our Getting Started link to learn more about The Hidden You mat and equipment classes. Plus great Pilates products we recommend to get you started.