What Are Pilates?

By Angela Winter


A type of exercise developed by Joseph Pilates of Germany, Pilates is being practiced by a lot of people already. It is also known as one of the most widely-practiced type of exercise. The main focus of this type of exercise is balanced development of the body that can be attained through core strength, awareness and flexibility and body conditioning. If done appropriately and regularly, Pilates can give a lot of benefits to the body.

Effects of Pilates to the body:

1. Pilates helps in toning the body and enhance its overall flexibility. But unlike other forms of exercises, Pilates is not focused on using weight lifting exercises to tone the muscles of the body. Instead, it makes use of other different apparatuses to achieve this goal.

2. Developing muscle strength and agility is another effect of Pilates on the one's body. These characteristics or development that is achieved when practicing Pilates is important for a person to do activities that needs the use of muscle strength and agility.

3. This kind of exercise also aids in preventing injuries and promotes proper use of body mechanics and correct posture.

4. Practicing Pilates also helps an individual to develop and improve breathing efficiency, making your heart and lungs healthier.

5. Practicing Pilates can also help in a person's rehabilitation and recovery from injuries.

6. When done properly, it might also lessen some chronic pains that most people are suffering from. Meaning one can enjoy improved quality of life.

Same with any other kind of exercise, doing Pilates accurately and appropriately is vital to achieve the benefits that you want from the exercise. Proper body discipline also plays a major role in doing the Pilates exercise. When planning to engage in Pilates exercise, you might want to consult Pilates experts first especially for beginners just to make sure that you will be properly guided in doing the exercise and making use of the different materials used in Pilates.

Two students, Gail Eisen and Phillip Friedman outlined the important principles of Pilates. Here are those principles:

1. The first principle is Centering which id the starting point for an individual to attain control over his/her own body.This is the method of Pilates also known as Central point.

2. Control is the second principle of Pilates which is focused on having the person gain control over his own body, most especially muscle control.Doing every aspect of the exercise properly and accurately will help to ensure achieving this goal of this principle.

3. The third principle of Pilates is Flow which is also known as moving with efficiency. This principle of the Pilates exercise is focused on attaining a well-coordinated movement of the body which may be attained if a person has proper flow of exercises. In effect, the body will have increased stamina and become stronger because of the body precision that you have gained by doing the Pilates exercises making the principle of flow as your guideline.

4. Breathing is the fourth principle of Pilates which is also one of the most important principle of Pilates. Doing the Pilates exercise is observed to improve breathing pattern as well as oxygenation.

5.The fifth principle of Pilates is Precision. This is mainly defined as having people who perform Pilates do the exercises with 100 accuracy to ensure that the benefits of doing the exercise will be maximized.

6.The last principle of Pilates is Concentration. doing Pilates, one should concentrate on his/her own body for them to internalize what area of the body needs more improvement and development.

Doing the Pilates exercise appropriately is of high-importance to ensure that you will be able to reach that you have set for yourself. The six principles of Pilates are important guidelines that should be followed for individuals to attain the benefits of doing the exercise. Another thing that an individual must remember to do is to ask the help and guidance of Pilates experts and trainers especially for beginners for them to be able to make use of the tools and do the exercise properly.




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