Exercise Information
Site Map | Privacy Policy

Pilates: A Challenging and Motivating Exercise Regimen





Pilates is named after its creator Joseph Pilates. It is an exercise regimen that uses machines and special stretches. This exercise puts emphasis on flexibility and overall strength over body bulk. One of the principles of Pilates is concentration. Your mind wills body into action and you should pay attention to how the body responds to the actions. What's important in Pilates is technique and you should really use your mind to get the movement right. It focuses on training the mind and the body to work together in order to attain the desired goal to be fit and healthy. It also challenges the interior muscles of the body to develop inner strength. Just like yoga, Pilates can also be a physically active form of meditation. Breathing techniques can be done. With the deep breathing and the complete focus required to perform each exercise correctly, one can feel relaxed and fall into a Zen-like peace.

Pilates is done barefoot on a variety of equipment or simply on a mat where in normal workout can also be done. But the difference between the normal exercise and Pilates is that the former includes mindless repetitions just focusing on what the body is doing and finishing the required laps or cycles while in Pilates, it challenges the mind as well as the body. You challenge yourself to refine the movement you are doing and once you have mastered it, you advance to a more difficult movement.

Pilates has been very effective to many people. That is why more and more people are getting hooked on it. Pilates strengthens and stretches the body's muscles, improves posture, flexibility and balance, and creates a more streamlined appearance. By doing Pilates, you build strength from the inside out, rebalance your body, and bring it into correct alignment. These strengthened muscles will help you to have a well-fit body in order to do everyday tasks without getting tired easily. And by achieving perfect balance between strength and flexibility, you can relieve unwanted stress and tension.

In order to get the most out of your Pilates workout, you should keep some tips in mind. First, you should stay focused. Pilates is designed to combine your breathing rhythm with your body movements. It should be able to unite your mind and body that is why you should really have that focus on what you are doing and in achieving your goal to be fit. Second, be comfortable. When doing Pilates, you should wear something you are comfortable moving in. Make sure that it allows you to breath, bend, and stretch without restriction. But never wear clothes which are too loose because this will hinder the Pilates instructor's ability to visually analyze body placement. Third, let it flow meaning when you perform your Pilates exercises, you should never do them in a hurry just to get over with it. Every moment should be slow, but still strong and flexible. And fourth, don't leave out the heart. In doing Pilates, you should see to it that you get your heart rate going. To do this, you can pair your Pilates workout with brisk walking, swimming, or any form of aerobic exercise.

Pilates does work but it all depends on the person's motivation. If you are not motivated, you are not going to continue it and thus, it will not work for you. The great thing about Pilates is that you keep on improving, it does not become boring thus making it more challenging, and it keeps you motivated to achieve the results you wanted.

For more information please check out the pilates resource guide.


MORE RESOURCES:

ABC News

Exercise good for would-be-mommies!
Times of India, India - Oct 9, 2008
Moderate exercise during pregnancy does not contribute to low birth weight, premature birth or miscarriage, according to a new study, which claims that ...
Editorial: A bribe worth sweating Schenectady Gazette
Physical Activity Guidelines KFYR-TV
Government Guidelines Urge Americans to Rev Up Exercise MedPage Today
Los Angeles Times - Kaiser network.org
all 490 news articles


PE grant helps students get more exercise
Sun Shopper, AZ - 4 hours ago
About 4000 kindergarten through fifth-grade students in 16 schools in Yavapai County are getting more exercise at school now, thanks to the Yavapai County ...


stv.tv

Missile fired from submarine in NF exercise to Pacific
ITAR-TASS, Russia - Oct 11, 2008
SEVEROMORSK, October 11 (Itar-Tass) -- The nuclear-powered missile submarine cruiser Tula of the Russian Northern Fleet carried out training firing of an ...
Russia test-fires ballistic missile to mid-Pacific Reuters
Russia fires Sineva missile max. distance United Press International
Russia fires record-setting ballistic missile PRESS TV
all 311 news articles


MLive.com

Exercise your right to vote
Cumberland Times-News, MD - 9 hours ago
If you aren’t registered to vote in Maryland and want to be able to have a say in the 2008 presidential election you still have time — but not much. ...
Nearly a Quarter Million Voters Added to Rolls in 2008 Greenwood Today
all 529 news articles


Exercise Rehab Benifited By Fundraising | KXNet.com North Dakota News
KXMC, ND - 21 hours ago
That is where the Trinity Health Cancer Exercise Rehab program comes in. It started in November of last year and helps get patients feeling better, ...


Pandemic flu exercise in Danbury
Danbury News Times, CT - 20 hours ago
The city's health department is teaming with a slew of agencies to hold a pandemic flu exercise. The Danbury Visiting Nurse Association will be giving flu ...
Danbury to hold pandemic flu exercise to be held today Danbury News Times
all 2 news articles


RP-US joint training exercise set
Manila Bulletin, Philippines - 14 hours ago
By CHARISSA M. LUCI The Philippines and the United States will hold a two-week joint bilateral training exercise from Oct. 15-28 called the "Talon Vision ...
RP-US joint military exercises to start Wednesday Philippine Star
all 3 news articles


Two days, 2 lakh pending cases: India’s biggest judicial exercise
Indian Express, India - 14 hours ago
Chandigarh, October 11 On December 20 and 21, district courts in Punjab and Haryana will try and do something that has never been attempted in the history ...


Many Americans unaware they have pre-diabetes
Enid News & Eagle, OK - 4 hours ago
Baggett said those people should make diet changes and exercise like any diabetic. Ruiz has some interesting statistics to back up what she says. ...
Report: 200 million Americans are either overweight or obese Enid News & Eagle
all 2 news articles


Ankara's exercise in futility
Guardian Unlimited, UK - 20 hours ago
The conflict between Turkey and the PKK shows no sign of being resolved and looks set to continue indefinitely. Clashes last weekend between Turkish forces ...

Exercise - Google News

© 2005-2006