Benefits of Pilates
What is Pilates? What are the benefits of Pilates? First of all, it's pronounced as pi-la-tiz. This is a set of exercise that was created by Joseph Pilates. His exercises focus mainly on flexibility, awareness and core strength so that your body is in full balance.
There are plenty of different exercise programs out there so it can be difficult to choose one that will work best for you. Many people make the mistake of getting caught up in get fit quick schemes that promise to help them shed the pounds fast but most often these exercise routines are combined with a fad diet which actually does more harm than good. One type of exercises that is quickly becoming a favorite among many is Pilates.
Among the benefits of Pilates exercises are it helps to really work your muscles and tone your body faster than most exercise routines. When doing these exercises your body is working to make each move smooth and precise. It helps you to get centered and completely focused on your exercise routine.
One example of the Pilates exercise and something that you should start with is called the imprinting. This is one of the basic exercises in Pilates. The purpose is to get you centered and relax your whole body.
What you need to do is lie flat on your back, with your spine straight. Keep your feet flat on the floor or mat with your knees bent. Your head should be straight looking up and your shoulders relaxed. Place both of your hands at your side with the palms touching the floor. Begin to breathe in and out and relax every part of your body. The easiest way to instruct your body to loosen up is to close your eyes and imagine each part relaxing as you inhale and exhale.
Once you've learned to do the basic, you may want to continue with some mat exercises such as the arm reach and pull exercise. This will help you to get your shoulders more stable as it aids in movement and placement of the scapular. Next you may want to move to some back exercises such as a gentle back stretch or a reclined twist which will help you stretch out your lower back. This can be used both before and during your routine as it can help to warm up and stretch things out.
If you are a beginner, watch this video for Pilates sample exercises.
No matter what area of your body you want to work on, there is a Pilate's exercise for it. The benefits of Pilates are that it works from your butt to your shoulders and there are also specific exercises that will help you to focus on your abdomen so that you can work on getting that six pack set of abs that you have always wanted. Pilates helps to work the muscles more effectively and thoroughly so your get more out of your workout then you would if you were doing such exercises as aerobic workouts.
There are quite a number of Pilate's classes popping up in local neighborhoods but you do not have to limit yourself to doing exercises in a class setting. You can do your Pilates exercises right in your own home and set your own schedule for when you have time.
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