Exercise Information

Pilates: A Challenging and Motivating Exercise Regimen


Pilates is named after its creator Joseph Pilates. It is an exercise regimen that uses machines and special stretches. This exercise puts emphasis on flexibility and overall strength over body bulk. One of the principles of Pilates is concentration. Your mind wills body into action and you should pay attention to how the body responds to the actions. What's important in Pilates is technique and you should really use your mind to get the movement right. It focuses on training the mind and the body to work together in order to attain the desired goal to be fit and healthy. It also challenges the interior muscles of the body to develop inner strength. Just like yoga, Pilates can also be a physically active form of meditation. Breathing techniques can be done. With the deep breathing and the complete focus required to perform each exercise correctly, one can feel relaxed and fall into a Zen-like peace.

Pilates is done barefoot on a variety of equipment or simply on a mat where in normal workout can also be done. But the difference between the normal exercise and Pilates is that the former includes mindless repetitions just focusing on what the body is doing and finishing the required laps or cycles while in Pilates, it challenges the mind as well as the body. You challenge yourself to refine the movement you are doing and once you have mastered it, you advance to a more difficult movement.

Pilates has been very effective to many people. That is why more and more people are getting hooked on it. Pilates strengthens and stretches the body's muscles, improves posture, flexibility and balance, and creates a more streamlined appearance. By doing Pilates, you build strength from the inside out, rebalance your body, and bring it into correct alignment. These strengthened muscles will help you to have a well-fit body in order to do everyday tasks without getting tired easily. And by achieving perfect balance between strength and flexibility, you can relieve unwanted stress and tension.

In order to get the most out of your Pilates workout, you should keep some tips in mind. First, you should stay focused. Pilates is designed to combine your breathing rhythm with your body movements. It should be able to unite your mind and body that is why you should really have that focus on what you are doing and in achieving your goal to be fit. Second, be comfortable. When doing Pilates, you should wear something you are comfortable moving in. Make sure that it allows you to breath, bend, and stretch without restriction. But never wear clothes which are too loose because this will hinder the Pilates instructor's ability to visually analyze body placement. Third, let it flow meaning when you perform your Pilates exercises, you should never do them in a hurry just to get over with it. Every moment should be slow, but still strong and flexible. And fourth, don't leave out the heart. In doing Pilates, you should see to it that you get your heart rate going. To do this, you can pair your Pilates workout with brisk walking, swimming, or any form of aerobic exercise.

Pilates does work but it all depends on the person's motivation. If you are not motivated, you are not going to continue it and thus, it will not work for you. The great thing about Pilates is that you keep on improving, it does not become boring thus making it more challenging, and it keeps you motivated to achieve the results you wanted.

For more information please check out the pilates resource guide.


MORE RESOURCES:

Wired News

Before Huge Sea Wargame, Navy and Marines Cheer Gridiron Fight
Wired News
The training exercise called Bold Alligator is unofficially on pause for the rematch of the dramatic 2008 Patriots-Giants Super Bowl. Hundreds of enlisted sailors and Marines watching the game in the ship's hangar deck aren't interested in rehearsing ...
Northrop Grumman Participating in Bold Alligator Maritime Exercise With F-35 ...MarketWatch (press release)
Operation Bold Alligator 2012 underwayMilitary Times (blog)
House Committee Leaders Visit USS EnterpriseDepartment of Defense
Strategy Page
all 13 news articles »


Republican & Herald

Schuylkill Haven woman, 97, still exercises, keeps active
Republican & Herald
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, she arrives for exercise classes that are sponsored by Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries and is a role model of sorts for the women who work out with her. "She's totally incredible. She really is. She's one of a kind, ...

and more »


Minister of Veterans Affairs Steven Blaney Attends Military Exercise in the ...
MarketWatch (press release)
The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, yesterday took part in a cold weather military training exercise called "Rafale blanche," held in the Chaudiere-Appalaches region. The exercise involves some 400 soldiers from 5 Combat ...

and more »


Are you exercising your CORE?
BtoB Magazine
To do this, you need to exercise your “CORE”: content, outreach, response and engagement. Content. Here, you need white papers, research reports, position papers, product videos, ROI calculators, press releases and e-books. However, there are two basic ...



Center for Research on Globalization

NATO Forces in the Mediterraenan for Exercise PROUD MANTA 12
DVIDS
The exercise will take place in the Ionian Sea to the southeast of Sicily. Forces are provided by Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. NISIDA, Naples – From Feb.
NATO War Games in the MediterraneanCenter for Research on Globalization

all 2 news articles »


National Park Service preparing exercise prescription in Washington area
Washington Post
WASHINGTON — The National Park Service is writing a prescription for outdoor recreation in the Washington area. The agency says it will spend nearly $85000 to launch the DC Park Prescriptions program later this year. It involves the Chesapeake and ...

and more »


Civil Air Patrol members across the state hold exercise at UCRA
Sparta Expositor
28, 81 members of Tennessee's Civil Air Patrol from across the state met at the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport for a search and rescue exercise, practicing all the skills they'd use in a real life mission. Members came from every corner of the state ...

and more »


Exercising is key to having a calm dog
North Shore News
By Joan Klucha, Special to North Shore News February 5, 2012 WHENEVER I talk about the importance of exercising a dog I always feel like it is a redundant conversation. I mean, who doesn't know that providing exercise for your dog is one of the ...

and more »


How to burn more calories during–and even after–exercise
Inquirer.net
During exercise, you burn calories according to the type of exercise you do, the intensity and total duration. The good news about exercise is you still burn extra calories even after, though not as much. But, over time when you become consistent, ...



Why To Exercise Today: Harvard Psychiatrist Finally Takes Own Advice
WBUR
But something always got in the way: I was too tired or too busy, had more important things to do or simply didn't feel like exercising. It became this thing I'd definitely do one day. That, and learning Mandarin Chinese. Definitely.


Google News

home | site map
© 2006