All About Pilates

In case you're not familiar with the Pilates system of physical fitness, it is a system of exercise developed by Joseph Pilates in Germany during World War I. Pilates originally called his system Contrology, as he believed that his system uses the mind to control the body. The Pilates system focuses on the core postural muscles that help to keep the body balanced and support the spine.

Primarily, Pilates teaches awareness of the breath and alignment of the spine, and works to strengthen the deep torso muscles. One of the core principles of this fitness program is to unite the mind and body, so that you automatically move gracefully and with the least amount of stress on the body.

Breathing is so vitally important that Pilates believed that proper breathing allowed the blood to "awaken the cells" and purge wastes. Joseph Pilates is known to have said "Squeeze out the lungs as you would wring a wet towel dry," emphasizing forced exhalation. Learning to breathe in this way overcomes our natural habit of holding our breath during certain periods of exercise, and instead oxygenates the muscles giving better results.

Pilates teaches control of the muscles, as well. Careful, deliberate movements teach your body to move as efficiently as possible and improve your overall health. This whole-body system allows your exercises to carry over into everyday life and reduce your risk of injury in other areas, such as sports or dancing.

Anyone from any background can perform Pilates; it is designed to help everyone have a strong mind and body. It is one of the most fun, challenging, and effective fitness systems you could choose from. Many Pilates exercises can be completed in less than 30 minutes, and the difference will stay with you. As many Pilates practicioners put it, "You feel better after 10 sessions, look better after 20, and have a completely new body in 30 sessions."

The best way to get started in Pilates is to find a trained instructor or join a reputable class, although there are many at-home products such as books and DVDs that can help get you started. The most important thing is that you actually start! Once Pilates changes your life, you'll never turn back!

Source: Wikipedia