What Are Pilates?

By Angela Winter


Developed by Joseph Pilates of Germany, Pilates is another type of exercise that is done by many people. It is one of the most commonly practiced type of exercise. Balanced development of the body is the main focus of this kind of exercise and it is attained through body conditioning, core strength, awareness and flexibility. Pilates can provide lots of benefits to the body if done properly and regularly.

Effects of Pilates to the body:

1. Despite the fact that one of the effect of Pilates on the body is toning and enhancing its overall flexibility, people who practice Pilates do not make use of weight lifting exercisies to achieve this effect. There are other kinds of equipment that are used by people who practice Pilates to achieve a well-toned and enhanced overall flexibility.

2. To perform activities that require agility and muscle strength, it is important for a person to have these abilities or at least to develop these abilities. Another good effect that one person can get in doing Pilates is developing agility and muscle strength making him perform a lot of tasks that require 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. Improved breathing efficiency and healthier lungs and heart functions is one of the many benefits that you can get in doing Pilates.

5. If you are suffering from injuries, practicing Pilates will also aid in the recovery and rehabilitation of that injury.

6. For people that suffering from chronic pains, practicing may help alleviate their experience of pain in effect they experience improved quality of life.

These are some of the benefits we get in doing Pilates exercise but it is also important to remember to ask the help of a Pilates instructor on what form of Pilates exercise is appropriate for you individually. Also, for pregnant women, Pilates exercise is not prohibited but doing this exercise, as with any other forms of exercise, should only be done with the approval of your doctor and with the guidance of a trained Pilates expert.

Now there are 6 important principles of Pilates as outlined by two students, Philip Friedman and Gail Eisen. These principles are as follows:

1. Centering is the first principle of Pilates that is mainly focused to achieve control over the body with the use of a starting point.

2. The second principle of Pilates is control which makes a person concentrate on ahchieving control, specifically musle control, over his own body. This principle can be achieved by properly doing every aspect of the Pilates exercise.

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-this is one of the most important principle in Pilates. Once a person is practicing Pilates appropriately, breathing pattern is expected to improve and will improve oxygenation on the body.

5. Precision is the fifth principle of Pilates. In this principle, what is emphasized is doing the exercises with 100% accuracy. By doing so, people doing Pilates exercise appropriately will get the maximum benefits that Pilates has to offer.

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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