What is Pilates ?

Pilates is the Ideal Mind-Body Workout

In 10 sessions, you will feel a difference.
In 20 sessions, you will see a difference.
In 30 sessions, you will be on your way to a new body.
- Joseph Hubertus Pilates -

The Pilates method [ pronounced Pi-lah-tees ] is truly the ideal exercise, a mind-body method that combines the eastern concepts of yoga, breath, flexibility and relaxation with the western concepts of strength and endurance.
Pilates, which aims to create a balance in the body and is designed to cater for the needs of the individual, is more dynamic than yoga but less aggressive, competitive and high-impact than aerobics, jogging or gym-work, which, unlike Pilates, can place damaging strain on the joints and heart.
Designed to enhance both physical and mental well-being and to develop a lithe and harmonious body, Pilates sculpts, tones and stretches the body through gentle low-impact movement and gives stunning emotional and psychological results, lengthens and strengthens muscles, enhances flexibility, increases circulation, relaxes the body and mind ... from the inside out.

Pioneered by a man named Joseph Pilates in the early 1900s, Pilates is a mind-body discipline comprised of over 500 exercises performed on a mat or specially designed apparatus.

He created and exercise system combining Eastern and Western disciplines with his own style of equipment.
One such apparatus, called the "Reformer", is a bed-like structure with a sliding platform that moves when you pull on straps or push against a bar with your hands or feet.

A Pilates workout is based on body resistance and on variable spring-loaded resistance instead of weights.

Lying, sitting, kneeling, squatting, you work many muscle groups at the same time rather than one isolated group.

The Pilates exercises has gained its reputation for helping improve the overall physical state of the body.
Pilates exercise is a series of breathing techniques combined with stretching and a simple machine.
Pilates exercises improve the body's core, which includes the muscles in the abdomen, back, and buttocks.
Some say it is better than yoga overall because it strengthens the body through improving posture strength and flexibility through stretching.

The machines used in Pilates, are there to challenge the body, by making it stay in certain positions while moving the other parts in differing directions, thereby training the body to endure strain, thus increasing strength.
The basic ideology of the Pilates exercise is the use of the body's mental ability to improve movement, efficiency and muscle control, which is also why they say that Pilate exercise somehow improves one's mental state.

Pilates training strengthens the deep, core muscles as well as the larger external muscles [ powerhouse ].

Pilates focusing on improving flexibility and strength for the total body without building bulk.
It is a series of controlled movements engaging your body and mind, performed on mat or/and on specifically designed exercise .

Pilates develops a high degree of abdominal and back strength and suppleness of the spine and limbs.
By studying Pilates you will develop better balance and muscle control while increasing coordination.
You will gain a cognitive understanding of how the body and mind work together to generate movement of specific muscles, as well as, reverse the detrimental effects of time-worn patterning.

Pilates also makes you aware of proper posture, due to the exercises that you do, it also develops the muscles in the back and abdomen, further contributing to your good posture.
Pilate exercise also uses breathing techniques, which further increases mental focus. Moreover, probably one of the greatest focuses of Pilates is flexibility strength of the muscles.
This ideology made Pilates popular among dancers when it first started out.

Many Pilates enthusiasts and users have testified to the effectiveness of Pilates. With regular classes, the bodies become well balanced and stronger.
Some say that after each workout, you can instantly feel the difference it has made to the parts of the body, mainly the legs back and abs.
Aside from increased strength, there is also the topic of weight loss, this is what most people aim for when they do Pilates exercises, and this is achieved indeed when you do Pilates.
Aside from the ones above other results of Pilates include increased energy levels, higher endurance, better flexibility, great abdominal workouts, and overall physical well being.
Aside from those stated above, Pilates exercises are also used for the rehabilitation of physical injuries, because of its low intensity level and focused form of exercise, some doctors say that it is best for the treatment of injuries on the limbs.

Pilates is excellent for fitness, conditioning, improving overall quality of life, rehabilitating and preventing injuries.

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