Pilates
WHAT IS IT?
Pilates helps the body acquire a healthy and slender figure. Pilates used to say that “in 10 sessions you’ll feel the difference, in 20 sessions you’ll see the difference, and in 30 sessions you’ll have a whole new body”.
More specifically, Pilates strengthens and tones the muscles, improves body posture and increases flexibility while coordinating and balancing body and mind.
Pilates exercises come in different levels, depending on the individual’s physical condition. Someone who has never worked out and the idea of even going to the gym bores him/her may improve his/her strength and aerobic capacity through Pilates. Alternative, if someone is already physically fit, Pilates will help him/her improve performance even more, as the individual will soon feel there are muscles working in his/her body he/she had never felt before. Even an athlete can significantly benefit from this method.
What are the benefits of Pilates?
Asides from an important supplement to the body’s functional workout, Pilates is also a natural means of rehabilitation. Pilates does not cause injuries, as it treats the body as a whole, something which makes it an excellent means of rehabilitation from injury and chronic conditions. What makes Pilates different is that it views the individual as a whole (holistic approach) and reaches the desired effect via proper posture through exercises for both body and mind. It deals with the entire body and does not focus on specific areas. The purpose of Pilates is not the ideal figure we see on magazine covers but a toned body with proper posture. The Pilates developer believed that proper posture comes from the spinal cord, as well as strengthening and elongation of the muscles. This is the Pilates basis thus the basis for proper body function. If we can control the core, which is the abdominal, spinal, pelvic and femoral muscles (i.e., powerhouse), we can control the entire body. Our body works from inside out, which gives long lasting results compared to other forms of exercise. All these require concentration and breathing, which plays an important role. Inhalation takes place through the nose during which the diaphragm moves downward in order for the air to move forward, sideways and behind the ribs. Exhalation takes place through the mouth, as the diaphragm moves upward in order to expel the air.