Originally called ‘contrology’ by German founder Joseph Pilates, this so-called ‘trendy’ exercise of twisting and balancing has actually been around for nearly 100 years. To stay in shape, Pilates had modified his gymnastics training to a small mat while held in an interment camp in England during WWI.
His unfortunate time of detainment turned into a positive as he helped others there maintain their strength and positive attitude. His methods inspired people to stay in shape then, and nearly a century later, they still do.
What is Pilates? It’s a little bit like yoga, but concentrates more on building your core muscles – abdomen, obliques, lower back, ‘glutes’ and thighs. Besides building strength, Pilates also helps develop flexibility, endurance, coordination and balance.
Sounds like it’s an all around awesome exercise. In fact, it is.
One of the greatest things about Pilates – each move engages your entire body. And each move has a dual purpose, as well. While strengthening one muscle, you are always stretching an opposing one.
And with its many levels, once you think you’ve mastered a particular Pilates move, there’s always a more difficult way to do it. So you never get bored.
Here are 5 benefits of doing Pilates:
Long & lean muscles – You don’t have to hoist heavy weights and bulk up to be strong. Pilates moves actually accentuate the length of your muscles, making bulky biceps look long and lean.
Better posture – With Pilates, you can bet your posture will improve. Centering on muscles that build a strong core, you will look more statuesque when you stand and even sit.
Stronger back – By strengthening abdominals and glutes, you’ll also be building a stronger back. Besides strength, you’ll also be stretching tight back muscles and learning to properly align your spine – alleviating back pain.
Awesome abs – Pilates is a wonderful way to have a flatter stomach. With the basic concept of pulling your navel to your spine, your abs will be tighter when standing and walking.
Flexibility – With a combination of stretching and strengthening your muscles, Pilates helps increase your range of motion and flexibility. By learning how to carefully stretch and build muscles, you will discover your movements are more controlled and fluid.
One of the most important things to remember about Pilates is that in any class there are people of all levels. You never have to feel intimidated that as a beginner or novice, others in the class will stare at you and wonder why you’re there.
Pilates is not a competition to see who can perform the best. It’s about working at your own pace and getting your own best personal results. Look into where you can take a Pilates class and book one as a New Year’s resolution. Your body will thank you.
Sources
http://pilates.about.com/od/pilatesmat/ss/Plank.htm
http://pilates.about.com/od/pilatesexercises/tp/First-10-Classic-Exercises.htm
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