Balanced Body Pilates

Jan | Leave a Comment

I used to think that Pilates exercises were a waste of time. It seemed so gimmicky to me. I had always stayed fit, after all, and had done it without any of those silly exercise trends. I just played sports. I shot hoops, I jogged a little bit, and I played football on the weekends with my buddies. If I hadn’t been seriously injured, it would not have even occurred to me to try balanced body Pilates. Why would I?

But when I was injured in a car crash, my usual exercise routine crumbled. My whole body was stiff and sore, and I couldn’t seem to exercise with any endurance anymore. I tried balanced body Pilates on a whim. One of my friends had a similar problem several years ago. She was hit by a passing bus and knocked down pretty hard. She told me that doing fitness Pilates classes had changed her life. It is the only reason, she claims, why she can still walk at the age of 50. I figured that I had nothing to lose. I was unhappy with how my life was, and the balanced body Pilates classes might just help. If they did not, I would only be out a hundred dollars.

I was fortunate enough to live right by a Pilates studio. In the town where I live, there are not that many exercise places. It is a pretty meat and potatoes neighborhood, and so finding a balanced body Pilates class is pretty rare. I think I live next to the only one in the city. The first time I went there, I almost walked right out again. There were Pilates balance balls and all kinds of other silly looking equipment that seemed to have no place in an exercise class. All of the people in the balanced body Pilates class were housewives except for me. I felt like I didn’t fit in, and like the course definitely wasn’t for me.

I am so glad that I decided to stay. Almost as soon as the balanced body pilates started, I felt a little bit better. The whole thing was engineered to help the body develop the proper postures and the necessary strength and flexibility for healthy living. The balanced body Pilates helped me to make a quick and full recovery. Now that I feel better, I do not go as much, but I know that if I am ever injured again, it is balanced body Pilates for me!

Pilates Exercise Program

Jan | Leave a Comment

Thinking about trying a Pilates exercise program this year? Here are some quick facts that will help you out. The Pilates exercise program is one of the best known and popular exercise programs in the United States today, enjoying a huge following of people in a range of ages. The Pilates method was developed in the 1920’s by a man named Joseph Pilates.

His exercise method was originally used to physically rehabilitate prisoners of war, with startling success. Further studies showed that his methods benefited anyone desirous of attaining a fit body. Athletes and dancers, more prone to injuries of the body, find these exercises enable them to stay fit without stressing injured knees or arthritic conditions.

Only a few short years ago, the Pilates exercise program was practiced by a select few of continuing generations of Pilates devotees. When ergonomics met science in the forum of exercise programs, there was an explosion in the popularity of the program. Post-pregnancy moms, seniors, athletes, dancers, ordinary fitness seekers and physical therapy patients find the Pilates exercise program to be highly adaptable to their individual needs.

What distinguishes the Pilates exercise program is its emphasis on an integrated balance of “core strength”, flexibility, suppleness of muscle tissue, and a mental awareness of body movement. People participating in a Pilates exercise program typically gain a highly toned body, fluid in movement, yet strong, with a leaner appearance.

If you join a Pilates exercise program, you’ll be taught the six principles of Pilates’ methodology. These six principles are centering, control, flow, precision, concentration and breathing. Pilates exercise programs echo similar disciplines, such as yoga and tai-chi in slow controlled movements, yielding big results. Unlike the old gym class exercise programs requiring strenuous workouts and exhausting repetitions, the Pilates exercise program relies on quality of movement rather than repetition. Surprisingly, less expenditure of effort on the participants’ part often results in fantastic results in a much shorter time frame.

The centerpiece of any Pilates program is that of core strength. Core strength development focuses on the abdomen. Interestingly, there is a correlation between the Pilates concept and that of the chakras of yoga and meditative disciplines. If the core strength of your body is solid, the rest follows. Core strength, as defined by Pilates, enables your body to relieve tension, resulting in free, strong and graceful motions with little expenditure of effort.

Development of the signature core strength of a Pilates exercise program eventually results in a stabilization of your torso, considered to be key to free mobility without pain or effort, followed by mastery of the entire body, toned and fit.

The Pilates exercise program may be contrasted to weight lifting programs, where arms, legs and abdomens are “buffed up” while neglecting the remainder of body and spirit.

While running or swimming provide a whole body workout, they do not address the centered and emotional focus of a Pilates exercise program. If you’re looking to get fit, you owe it to yourself to look into Pilates programs.

Get A Personal Trainer This Year?

Jan | Leave a Comment

The best way to get fit and keep fit is to have one to one sessions with a personal trainer. They are much in demand these days, employed by celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Tom Cruise, Madonna and Britney Spears. However, they are not just for the stars. Many people use their services for different reasons.

People who have demanding jobs may not have time to go to the gym and the personal trainer often will train a client in their own home at their convenience. Not everyone enjoys the experience of a gym and prefers to work out in their own surroundings. However, for people who like the gym environment, some trainers have their own gym to invite clients to.

The first step is for an experienced professional to assess the needs of the client and find out their health status. It is important to work with someone who has the proper qualifications and accreditation. From the initial assessment, the trainer will test general fitness and cardiovascular endurance and then go on to design an individual exercise routine, tailored to the goal that the client has set out. Some people want to achieve weight loss or gain muscle and toning. Some may want to improve stamina or flexibility.

Some clients bring specific goals in addition to wanting to maintain general fitness levels. Many athletes work with a personal trainer and they may want to improve speed or power. There are exercise regimes aimed at rehabilitation after sports injuries and some massage may be required. Pre or post-natal training is another option.

Some trainers like to work with machines and some prefer not to, only using free weights. Whatever the methods used, the trainer will work on different parts of the body. Typical exercises include squats, step-ups, bench presses and lat pulls. When equipment is used, it is likely to be weights, steps, a rowing machine, treadmill, exercise bike, skipping rope or punchbag.

Keeping fit is a matter of self discipline but it can be easier said than done. Having a routine is the best way to approach it but it can be hard, even then. A personal trainer is not just there to provide the necessary knowledge but to motivate the client and give them support. Sometimes, the body just doesn’t feel like doing anything and that’s when personal trainers are worth their weight in gold. It could become one of the most significant relationships in a person’s life.

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