Although Pilates has been around since the early part of the 20th century, it is only beginning to get the attention it deserves.
Pilates is a unique set of exercises that relies on certain muscles that include your back, your abdominal (also known as your Core), your buttocks and your inner thigh muscles. Each exercise flows into the other and requires you to perform them precisely and repetitiously. By performing the exercises exactly, they will eventually help you to have a stronger; more balanced physique and will help to correct any weakness in your body.
If you have always admired the long, lean look of a dancer's body then Pilates is perfect for you.
However, beyond a well-sculpted and balanced body, Pilates has many other health benefits as well.
One of the benefits of Pilates is stress management. We live in an extremely stressful world. And we all need to learn how to deal with stress. Often, unbridled stress can lead to disease or even death and is commonly called the silent killer. Many people find that by practicing Pilates they learn how to breathe properly and to focus their minds on their form. By learning to focus the mind and engaging it with the body, this helps to release tension and stress.
Another benefit of Pilates is that it gives flexibility to your body. In our modern world, most of us lead very sedentary lifestyles. We do not get enough exercise. As a result, our muscles and joints become very stiff and our bodies begin to age quickly. Stretching, however, is one of the key components of Pilates. By engaging in Pilates on a regular basis, you will have increased flexibility and range of motion. This will help you in many aspects of your life including being able to perform all of your daily activities more easily. Having a flexible body also means better blood circulation as well. This will lead to the blood being able to reach your muscles to bring nourishment to your cells.
Body alignment is another benefit of Pilates. Most of us are more aligned or developed on one side of the body than the other. For example, the left side of our body may be stronger and more flexible than the right side of our body. By practicing Pilates on a regular basis, you can change this by helping your body to become more balanced. Pilates will help you to strengthen, tone, limber, and stretch all of your muscles and joints. This will give you a much more balanced and aligned body and physique.
Additionally, by practicing Pilates on a regular basis, your body will become more streamlined. The exercises are designed to stretch and lengthen your muscles. This will give a longer, leaner look to your body and overall posture.
Lastly, another benefit of regular participation in Pilates is more mental alertness. Performing the Pilates postures and breathing exercises will not only increase the circulation of your blood, it will also bring more oxygen to your brain, thus increasing your mental alertness.
(Note: This article is the opinion of the author and may or may not be substantiated by scientific fact.)
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Pilates Exercise Equipment for Fun and Fitness
Step inside any health and fitness club and you will quickly notice that Pilates classes are always filled to capacity. Pilates is a favorite fitness program for strengthening and developing balance within the mid-section of the body, otherwise known as the "core".
Pilates can be performed without the need for complicated pieces of equipment. However, there are certain items that can make the exercises more comfortable and can help your body get more out of the exercises.
Pilates Mat
Pilates Machine
Pilates Ball
Pilates is an exercise program that focuses on strengthening the core muscles group. Pilates exercise equipment enhances the exercises and makes the routine more comfortable. This allows the participant to get the most out of the program and enjoy better health.
(Note: This article is the opinion of the author and may or may not be substantiated by scientific fact.)
Pilates can be performed without the need for complicated pieces of equipment. However, there are certain items that can make the exercises more comfortable and can help your body get more out of the exercises.
Pilates Mat
The Pilates mat really only helps with one thing: a hard exercise floor. Most of the Pilates exercises involve the participant stretching and performing strength exercises while laying down, kneeling or sitting. Having a non-slip Pilates mat will increase comfort and allow the time to be spent concentrating on the exercise rather than the pain that is shooting into your back as a result of the cold, hard floor. A quality Pilates mat will be durable, can be rolled for travel and storage and can be washed when needed.
Pilates Machine
The reformer is a Pilates machine that, while looking extremely complicated, is actually a very elegant machine that allows the participant to work the core with basic yet precise movements. The reformer consists of a sliding platform with springs connected to a spring bar that allows the participant to vary the resistance. The sliding platform or carriage is where the participant will sit, kneel, lay or stand as they perform the exercises. The carriages moves up and back as they push on the foot bar. There is a headrest and shoulder block that is used to keep the participant steady within the machine.
Pilates Ball
A Pilates ball can also be used for comfort when performing the exercises. Certainly many of the movements can be done while sitting on the ball which seems to be much better than simply sitting on the hard gym floor. However, it should not be presumed that this will be easy as a separate benefit of the ball is it forces the participant to control their balance as they are performing the exercises. This allows your body, and particularly your core, to gain the maximum benefit from the exercise.
Pilates is an exercise program that focuses on strengthening the core muscles group. Pilates exercise equipment enhances the exercises and makes the routine more comfortable. This allows the participant to get the most out of the program and enjoy better health.
(Note: This article is the opinion of the author and may or may not be substantiated by scientific fact.)
Keeping Fit a Bit at a Time
So you made a new year's resolution to lose some weight, to get in shape... and part of the plan is to work out for an hour a day, seven days a week!
No, wait... make that 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
No, better stick to 20 minutes a day, 3 days a week.
Oh, what the heck, why bother doing it at all. You'll just end up breaking the resolution like 95% of all people do, right? So it's easier to forget the heartache and frustration, and nip it in the bud, quit before you start.
Well, how about this instead. Don't make huge goals that you find daunting and you know you won't achieve... pick goals that you can get your head around and definitely continue to do forever.
A little bit here and a little bit there adds up. If you try to carve out an hour or half an hour, chances are you'll get busy and miss out on it a few times, then you'll just stop trying so hard, and it will turn out that you have to revise your plans or cancel them altogether, which will probably feel like failure.
But what if you do just 5 minutes, a few times a day? That will add up to the same amount of workout time, but it will be very easy to keep it up because it doesn't feel like it's taking any time at all.
Maybe every time you get up to grab a coffee, you do 20 squats. And while you're waiting in line, you do calf raises. And when you're washing dishes, you do leg lifts.
Sitting at your desk, you do some side stretches or virtual rows, or use a paperweight to do some bicep curls. And while you talk on the phone, you stand up and do some lunges.
Then maybe instead of taking the elevator all the time, you walk if it's four flights of stairs or less. And you walk to the store instead of driving if you're not buying too much stuff that you won't be able to carry it.
By the end of the week, you'll probably have done more exercise than you would have if you had forced yourself to work out for a certain period of time each day, and not been able to keep the schedule.
You won't break into a sweat with all your mini workouts, which some people say is key to getting the benefits of exercise, but it is arguable that this type of regular and consistent movement has a huge benefit for your body... and your mind, because you'll feel happier and more in shape just by the act of stretching, let alone doing the tougher moves.
So don't let a busy schedule stop you from being in shape. Do what you can every day, and keep yourself fit a bit at a time.
(Note: This article is the opinion of the author and may or may not be substantiated by scientific fact.)
No, wait... make that 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
No, better stick to 20 minutes a day, 3 days a week.
Oh, what the heck, why bother doing it at all. You'll just end up breaking the resolution like 95% of all people do, right? So it's easier to forget the heartache and frustration, and nip it in the bud, quit before you start.
Well, how about this instead. Don't make huge goals that you find daunting and you know you won't achieve... pick goals that you can get your head around and definitely continue to do forever.
A little bit here and a little bit there adds up. If you try to carve out an hour or half an hour, chances are you'll get busy and miss out on it a few times, then you'll just stop trying so hard, and it will turn out that you have to revise your plans or cancel them altogether, which will probably feel like failure.
But what if you do just 5 minutes, a few times a day? That will add up to the same amount of workout time, but it will be very easy to keep it up because it doesn't feel like it's taking any time at all.
Maybe every time you get up to grab a coffee, you do 20 squats. And while you're waiting in line, you do calf raises. And when you're washing dishes, you do leg lifts.
Sitting at your desk, you do some side stretches or virtual rows, or use a paperweight to do some bicep curls. And while you talk on the phone, you stand up and do some lunges.
Then maybe instead of taking the elevator all the time, you walk if it's four flights of stairs or less. And you walk to the store instead of driving if you're not buying too much stuff that you won't be able to carry it.
By the end of the week, you'll probably have done more exercise than you would have if you had forced yourself to work out for a certain period of time each day, and not been able to keep the schedule.
You won't break into a sweat with all your mini workouts, which some people say is key to getting the benefits of exercise, but it is arguable that this type of regular and consistent movement has a huge benefit for your body... and your mind, because you'll feel happier and more in shape just by the act of stretching, let alone doing the tougher moves.
So don't let a busy schedule stop you from being in shape. Do what you can every day, and keep yourself fit a bit at a time.
(Note: This article is the opinion of the author and may or may not be substantiated by scientific fact.)
Burn-off the Fat
Burn-off the fat and keeping your weight down to a good level is something that seems to be beyond a lot of people. There are dozens of methods out there that supposedly help you cut down on your weight, ranging from crash diets involving quirky food, to medications designed to burn off fat, to radical new age psychic methods of self hypnosis for fat burning.
Okay, fine. Reality check... you can't wish and vibrate fat away, and miracle pills might work, but they generally have unhealthy side effects. If you really want to keep your weight down and do it in a healthy fashion, you have to work for it. And that involves the one weight loss method that is actually the most effective but the one that a vast majority of people dread: Exercise!
Before jumping out and buying yourself a pair of running shoes though, consult with your doctor and make sure that you're in fit enough shape to exercise strenuously. Ask your doctor's advice and find out what levels of strain, wear and tear you can put yourself through without risking your health.
If you want to make it easy on yourself, start slow. Brisk walks and jogging are nice easy cardiovascular exercises that get rid of excess fat slowly. You can take this at your own pace; remember, how fast you lose weight is directly proportional to the amount of effort involved. Even something as simple as walking up flights of stairs at the office instead of taking an elevator can be incorporated into part of your daily weight loss routine.
Next stop on the agenda after you've got your walking and jogging habits down is to get into calisthenics.
Okay, fine. Reality check... you can't wish and vibrate fat away, and miracle pills might work, but they generally have unhealthy side effects. If you really want to keep your weight down and do it in a healthy fashion, you have to work for it. And that involves the one weight loss method that is actually the most effective but the one that a vast majority of people dread: Exercise!
Before jumping out and buying yourself a pair of running shoes though, consult with your doctor and make sure that you're in fit enough shape to exercise strenuously. Ask your doctor's advice and find out what levels of strain, wear and tear you can put yourself through without risking your health.
If you want to make it easy on yourself, start slow. Brisk walks and jogging are nice easy cardiovascular exercises that get rid of excess fat slowly. You can take this at your own pace; remember, how fast you lose weight is directly proportional to the amount of effort involved. Even something as simple as walking up flights of stairs at the office instead of taking an elevator can be incorporated into part of your daily weight loss routine.
Next stop on the agenda after you've got your walking and jogging habits down is to get into calisthenics.
This flexible approach aligns with reminders found in
👉 The complete guide staying fit and healthy at any age.
Essentially, you form a shallow letter V. Start with small repetitions, pace yourself, and don't raise your feet or head more than a foot above the ground. Crunches are a great way to target the stomach, which is a problem area for most of us. Variations on crunches include raising only your legs, to target your lower abdomen, or raising only your head and upper body to target higher abdominal muscle groups. Twisting crunches involve turning your upper body alternately with each crunch and target love handles. Crunches are just one example of calisthenics. There are other exercises that are meant to target other body parts. Find a gym with a good calisthenics instructor and visit it regularly.
Another approach to weight loss is to engage in classic sports. Any good sport will eventually help you lose weight; if there is one that you actually like engaging in, go for it. Assuming you don't have a preference, however, try biking and rowing. These two activities burn off fat and replace it with lean muscle, and are actually quite exhilarating.
While weight training may seem like an option, it actually doesn't reduce weight much. Weight lifting replaces fat mass with muscle mass, usually of the bulky type. Both biking and rowing keep the muscle mass you gain lean, giving you a more streamlined look and keeping your weight down.
The most effective physical activities for weight reduction, however, involve ones that require great amounts of neuromuscular activity. These sharpen reflexes as well as burning off fat. Some of the best examples of these activities are dancing, martial arts, fencing, and gymnastics.
Because of the greater need for dexterity and agility in these sports, a person who trains in them naturally develops a much higher metabolic rate.
Also, since the emphasis in these arts is in rapid, efficient movement, the burn rate of calories is a lot higher than regular sports. However, these arts are also the most demanding, not only physically, but also in terms of mental alertness and coordination.
They are not for everyone but if you want an exercise that will help you lose weight fast and keep it off, you can't go wrong with them.
That's pretty much it in a nutshell. Don't bother coming up with excuses. Most people claim that they either don't have the time, the equipment, or the opportunity to exercise and lose weight.
In truth, opportunities are always available. Even taking just the first option, and spending 30 minutes a day walking, will eventually make you lose weight.
The important thing is to stop rationalizing that it's something you can't do. You can burn that fat off; it just takes a bit of persistence.
(Note: This article is the opinion of the author and may or may not be substantiated by scientific fact.)
👉 The complete guide staying fit and healthy at any age.
Here is one of the best: Crunches
As opposed to sit-ups, crunches are medically proven to be healthier and easier on the body, even as they burn up more fat. To do crunches, lie on the floor, lock your legs straight, and raise your feet and upper body simultaneously, bending at the waist.Essentially, you form a shallow letter V. Start with small repetitions, pace yourself, and don't raise your feet or head more than a foot above the ground. Crunches are a great way to target the stomach, which is a problem area for most of us. Variations on crunches include raising only your legs, to target your lower abdomen, or raising only your head and upper body to target higher abdominal muscle groups. Twisting crunches involve turning your upper body alternately with each crunch and target love handles. Crunches are just one example of calisthenics. There are other exercises that are meant to target other body parts. Find a gym with a good calisthenics instructor and visit it regularly.
Another approach to weight loss is to engage in classic sports. Any good sport will eventually help you lose weight; if there is one that you actually like engaging in, go for it. Assuming you don't have a preference, however, try biking and rowing. These two activities burn off fat and replace it with lean muscle, and are actually quite exhilarating.
While weight training may seem like an option, it actually doesn't reduce weight much. Weight lifting replaces fat mass with muscle mass, usually of the bulky type. Both biking and rowing keep the muscle mass you gain lean, giving you a more streamlined look and keeping your weight down.
The most effective physical activities for weight reduction, however, involve ones that require great amounts of neuromuscular activity. These sharpen reflexes as well as burning off fat. Some of the best examples of these activities are dancing, martial arts, fencing, and gymnastics.
Because of the greater need for dexterity and agility in these sports, a person who trains in them naturally develops a much higher metabolic rate.
Also, since the emphasis in these arts is in rapid, efficient movement, the burn rate of calories is a lot higher than regular sports. However, these arts are also the most demanding, not only physically, but also in terms of mental alertness and coordination.
They are not for everyone but if you want an exercise that will help you lose weight fast and keep it off, you can't go wrong with them.
That's pretty much it in a nutshell. Don't bother coming up with excuses. Most people claim that they either don't have the time, the equipment, or the opportunity to exercise and lose weight.
In truth, opportunities are always available. Even taking just the first option, and spending 30 minutes a day walking, will eventually make you lose weight.
The important thing is to stop rationalizing that it's something you can't do. You can burn that fat off; it just takes a bit of persistence.
(Note: This article is the opinion of the author and may or may not be substantiated by scientific fact.)
You are really need Exercise !
"I am not overweight, so why should I be exercising?" If you asked yourself this question, like so many of us did at the beginning of the year, here are a few really good reasons to start exercising:
Of course, exercise has a lot more benefits, and YOU can definitely benefit from regular exercising activities.
Now you may ask: but how do I exercise? I don’t like the thought of having to work out all the time. Well, you can actually enjoy your work out routine.
If you like swimming, go a couple of times a week. If you like company, invite a friend for a nice stroll in the park, and if you find yourself wanting more, go ahead and sign up for a gym, where you can use their professional equipment. You can also go bike riding a few times a month, and why not sign up for a dance class?
Of course, vary your routine; so you don’t get bored, and also for then benefit that you get from exercising different areas of your body. Also, many times you can get in a little bit of exercise without even trying. If you mow your lawn with a push mower, if you are weeding, or gardening, you are in fact exercising.
When you go shopping or are out on errands, make sure you don’t look for the closest parking spot. And if you have a two-story house, find reason to go up and down the stairs several times a day (checking on your kids, getting a load of laundry to the lower floor, taking back the folded laundry, or any other reason to move your muscles).
Remember to warm up and cool down before and after your exercising time, and make sure you don’t forget to drink plenty of water to flush out toxins.
Enjoy your newfound flexibility, strength, and increased self-esteem!
(Note: This article is the opinion of the author and may or may not be substantiated by scientific fact.)
- Exercise lowers the bad cholesterol, as well as your blood pressure, helping prevent heart conditions.
- Reduce back pain when you strengthen your back muscles, by improving flexibility with regular exercising.
- Exercise also helps slow the aging process, because of increased blood flow to all the organs, as well as muscles.
- Exercise can be a great mood enhancer, depression buster, and stress manager: do your workouts in nature, and enjoy the benefits of fresh air and sunlight.
- Sleep well after a good workout: of course, don’t exercise too late in the evening, as that can backfire on your, giving you extra energy.
- Systematic exercise enhances your immune system.
Of course, exercise has a lot more benefits, and YOU can definitely benefit from regular exercising activities.
Now you may ask: but how do I exercise? I don’t like the thought of having to work out all the time. Well, you can actually enjoy your work out routine.
If you like swimming, go a couple of times a week. If you like company, invite a friend for a nice stroll in the park, and if you find yourself wanting more, go ahead and sign up for a gym, where you can use their professional equipment. You can also go bike riding a few times a month, and why not sign up for a dance class?
Of course, vary your routine; so you don’t get bored, and also for then benefit that you get from exercising different areas of your body. Also, many times you can get in a little bit of exercise without even trying. If you mow your lawn with a push mower, if you are weeding, or gardening, you are in fact exercising.
When you go shopping or are out on errands, make sure you don’t look for the closest parking spot. And if you have a two-story house, find reason to go up and down the stairs several times a day (checking on your kids, getting a load of laundry to the lower floor, taking back the folded laundry, or any other reason to move your muscles).
Remember to warm up and cool down before and after your exercising time, and make sure you don’t forget to drink plenty of water to flush out toxins.
Enjoy your newfound flexibility, strength, and increased self-esteem!
(Note: This article is the opinion of the author and may or may not be substantiated by scientific fact.)
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