Pilates is all about building and developing your “core”. Why is this so important to good health and fitness? The core consists of the main muscles in your lower torso that helps support your entire posture and promotes good posture.
Having the correct posture gives one a feeling of well-being, as well as the look of leanness and height. Good posture is also important for good health as we shall soon see.
Many athletes and even ballroom dancers practice Pilates in order to strengthen their core muscles and allow them to change direction quickly with better balance, thus reducing the risk of injury.
The foundation of Pilates is based upon slow, controlled exercises where nothing is rushed. The reason for this is to develop body awareness, and this is why Pilates is so fantastic. Body awareness allows you to be conscious of what every muscle in your body is doing, and this helps a lot when you do any kind of sporting activity.
Pilates has been known to be the ideal workout for people who have suffered an injury and need to build strength back into their muscles. The Pilates workouts can be easily customized for rehabilitation, allowing one to perform overall body exercises whilst not affecting the injured area.
Correct breathing combined with slow, controlled exercises are what creates the muscle toning and strength that people rave on about. Unlike other types of gym workouts, doing faster repetitions get you no where. Instead precision is key.
The trick to getting the maximum benefits out of Pilates is to perform every motion with precision and control. In addition, proper breathing as well as position of your body is critical. Therefore, as a beginner you will want to find a school that takes the time to correct your motions so you do not form any bad habits and get the best foundational techniques possible right from the start. This will ensure that you don’t waste your time or risk causing yourself injury.
To develop your body awareness, Pilates must be approached with a full dedication and also concentration. To practice Pilates in it’s truest form, your mind must be focused on every single movement and your breathing in sync.
For Pilates to be effective in your fitness goals, you will need to be entirely dedicated to practicing the right forms and the right breathing exercises. The people don’t see results are the ones who have not totally committed themselves.
While Pilates has been advertises as a great workout for losing weight, bear in mind that you shouldn’t depend on it solely, especially if you are aiming to shed more than a few pounds. Losing lots of weight requires a healthy diet as well as cardio activities to burn calories. So make sure you combine Pilates with low carbohydrate meals and runs around your local park at least 3 times a week.
Require Pilates equipment? Come to the author’s web blog for supplementary information on ways to buy cheap Pilates accessories like the Pilates Ball & Pilates Exercise Machine.