subject: Pilates [print this page] Yoga, meditation, zumba, belly dance, cardio step and so forth; each has their special place in every gym rats heart. After a hectic day at work, hitting the gym for a zumba or yoga session is just what you need to help you feel rejuvenated. In this day and age where everyone wants to try different styles of exercises and forms of cardio workouts, Pilates is a great alternative.
What is Pilates?
Pilates is a fantastic exercise form that emphasizes balanced development of your body by improving your core strength and increasing body flexibility. Pilates has taken America by storm because of its great effectiveness. Core strength is the foundation of Pilates and hence it is suitable for women and men across all age groups. The core muscles are the deep, internal muscles of back and abdomen. Pilates exercises are based on the principle that the core needs to be developed fully so that it can work and function in tandem with other superficial muscles of the trunk etc. As a person develops his core strength; he develops stability in his entire torso!
6 Pilates Principles:
Pilates relies on the fact that quality is much more important that quantity. Hence, unlike many other work outs, Pilates, focuses on doing each exercise fully and with precision and does not concentrate on repetitions.
1.Centering Pilates makes us focus and develop the centre of the body
2.Control no body part is left on its own. Each exercise is done keeping all body parts in control and in mind
3.Flow Pilates exercises are done in a flowing manner. Fluidity, ease and grace are goals applied all to exercises
4.Breath Pilates concentrates on the fact that oxygen supply should be maximum in your body, hence inhaling exhaling in the correct way is of essence
5.Precision just like Yoga, it has specific poses and exercises with appropriate trajectory. Each pose needs to be performed with precision and in a particular way only for the benefits to be felt
6.Concentration Pilates needs to done with full focus and concentration so that the person can extract and benefit optimally
The Pilates method of exercise was developed by Joseph Pilates. The whole principle behind Pilates took a little time to migtae to the U.S. because it is abstract. But lot of research and studies have been done to show that strengthening of the core, inhaling maximum oxygen and developing inner muscles is an ideal way to work out. Pilates, is taught in almost every gym in the country today. Try it out and discover a sure path to health and happiness!
