Pilates Explained
Pilates - Many Benefits That Improve Your Physical and Emotional State Pilates is an exercise technique geared towards body balance and core body strength through stretching and strengthening. It focuses primarily on the central postural muscles which helps maintain the body to balance and are significant for providing the spine support. Pilates exercises specifically instill neutral alignment awareness of your spine as well as strengthening the postural muscles supporting this alignment, to help prevent or alleviate back pain. With focused patterns of breathing along with systematic execution of exercises, Pilates has proved helpful not only because it is a great fitness work by itself, but as a significant “add-on” to physical rehabilitation and “professional sports training” as well. Pilates is highly recommended by chiropractors for spine and back strengthening. After a period of consecutive Pilate’s workouts, you should experience increased mobility to joints, thinner thighs and waist, a flatter stomach and improved blood circulation. Pilates is an excellent whole body workout improving your body and at the same time your mind. Because Pilates exercises are gentle, it is also recommended for: • People seeking rehabilitation by way of physical therapy. • Overweight individuals and the elderly since no lifting or jumping is involved. • Individuals suffering from arthritis since it helps reduce muscle stiffness. • Individuals with poor posture. • Women who have recently given birth and want to regain their body shape as it provides notable results in the stomach. The Pilates principles: • Involves the mind to focus and concentrate to improve muscle control and movement efficiency. • Develops awareness of proper posture or neutral spine alignment during the exercises. • Develops deep muscles to support good posture and create ‘core" strength. • Use breathing techniques to promote mental centering and focus. • Creating muscle strength, length and flexibility. The Pilates benefits: • Condition effective movement patterns to make your body less prone to injury. • Reduce stress, boost energy level and relieves tension by way of deep stretching. • Re-establish postural alignment. • Create a more flexible and stronger spine. • Promote fast recovery from injury or strain. • Improve circulation. • Intensify neuromuscular coordination. • Alleviates joint stress and back pains. • Enhance agility, stamina and mobility. • Compliments any sports training program. • Improve how your body feels and looks. How to get the best results from your Pilates workout. 1. Remain focused. Pilates is aimed towards combining your breathing sequence with your “body movements”. 2. Be comfortable. Pilates is performed without shoes; wear comfortable clothing. Should you begin to feel strained, or feel pain or feel uncomfortable, simply stop. 3. Let every movement flow. Avoid jerky, quick movements specially when changing from one position to the other. Every movement and position should take place slowly yet be strong and flexible. 4. Don’t forget your heart. With Pilates, you can, with fluidity in mind, also work on the exercises at a faster rate so your heart rate increases. Or combine your pilates exercise with a cardiovascular exercise such as brisk walking or swimming. The wonderful thing about a Pilates workout is that it is for everyone. Anyone can take part, do it and enjoy its benefits!