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

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.

To attain the benefits that you want for your body when doing Pilates exercise, it is essential to do it properly and appropriately. Another factor that plays a major role in the success of your Pilates exercise is Body discipline. It is also advisable to seek help and guidance from a Pilates expert if you want to start doing Pilates exercises. That way you will be sure to do the exercise properly and use all the Pilates equipment effectively. Unlike any other forms of exercise, Pilates can be done by pregnant women but with the approval of their physician and should be performed with the guidance of a Pilates expert or trainer.

Philip Friedman and Gail Eisen, two students was able to outline the six principles of Pilates exercise. These are the six principles of Pilates:

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. The second principle of Pilates is control which makes a person concentrate on achieving control, specifically muscle 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. The fourth principle of Pilates is breathing. Considered as one of the most important principles of Pilates, once a person starts to do Pilates exercise improve oxygenation and improved breathing pattern is expected to be a result.

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. Concentration is the last principle of Pilates. This principle is emphasized since doing Pilates involves understanding your own body by concentrating and focusing on what part of the body needs more improvement.

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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