Pilates Exercises Explained: Making Pilates Workouts Work for You
Joseph Pilates, a gymnast born in Germany of Greek ancestry, developed Pilates exercises in the early twentieth century. Because he believed his method uses the mind to control the muscles, Pilates called his method Contrology. The fundamental goal of Pilates, according to practitioners, is to try to build a union of mind and body, so that even without engaging the mind, the body will move with economy, poise, and balance.
The results of Pilates exercises may seem like magic, but like any other workout, it’s a process. But once you work that process, it can work like magic!
Here’s the Pilates Exercises Process Broken Down into Two Simple Parts
- Find a good instructor
No single agency certifies Pilates instructors, and so instructors can have a range of experience and training. Instructors, according to the Pilates Method Alliance, should be able to evaluate a client’s posture and movement patterns, recognize what the client is doing in a session, have the ability to build a suitable, client specific program, and pace the workout for an effective movement experience. If you’re concerned about your instructor’s qualifications, ask how long their training was and how much practical experience they have.
- Get the proper equipment
Although Pilates exercises can be performed on a mat, the proper method uses five specially designed pieces of equipment: the Reformer, the Pedipull, the Cadillac, the Barrel and the Chair. The repetitions of the stretching exercises done on the equipment are low while the intensity and concentration are high. Each piece of equipment is appropriate for a large variety of exercises for almost every part of the body.
Pilates exercises can seem a bit hard in the beginning. After a few sessions, most people start to sense a true difference in their muscle tone, strength, and flexibility as well as considerably improved posture.