How Pilates Can Help Your Weight Loss

Ah, weight loss. How many of us struggle with this seemingly simple thing! For those who struggle, it's not simple at all. If you're going to undertake a new exercise, it's natural to want to know whether or not that exercise will help you lose weight. Pilates can help with weight loss, especially if it customized to your weight-loss needs. Here are some ways how.Cross TrainExperts recommend doing Pilates along with another kind of exercise, such as running, brisk walking, swimming, bicycling, and so forth. You don't do them at the same time, but it's a good idea to do a more cardio-intensive exercise in addition to Pilates. The Pilates can help tone the muscles as you lose fat, and it can also boost your metabolism. So the two types of exercises may work together to help you lose weight.Use...

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Seniors: Why You Should Try Pilates

Exercise for seniors is important, but many older folks are afraid of hurting themselves in high-impact, muscle-building workouts or hyperactive sweat-fests. This is understandable - seniors often need a different approach to exercise that their hearts, muscles, and joints can handle. Pilates may be just the thing.A whole-body, low-impact exercise, Pilates focuses on "lengthening the spine" and strengthening the core muscle groups, but gently and with specific exercises. Many practitioners claim significant pain relief, which can be very attractive to seniors who often deal with daily pain from arthritis, old injuries, and other problems. Here are some other reasons why seniors should try Pilates.Injury AvoidanceStrengthening the core muscles can lessen the chances of injury. For one thing,...

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Pilates for Stress Relief and Wellbeing

Pilates is not a religious practice, nor is it the same thing as meditation or Yoga. Pilates was developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s, who was plagued with physical problems as a child and developed a set of exercises and movements to promote his own physical wellbeing. He wanted to help others achieve a superior physical state, too, and shared and taught his exercises to many. He believed "the whole world" would benefit from his exercises.Pilates is said to offer more than just physical strength, however. Stress relief is considered one of Pilates' positive effects. Here are some possible reasons as to why and how Pilates offers stress relief and overall wellbeing.Pain ReliefWhen you're in pain, that alone is stressful. Chronic pain can be stressful to the point of debilitation. Joseph...

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Pilates versus Yoga - What's the Difference?

It's not uncommon to wonder about the differences between these two disciplines. Some of the equipment, too, seems to cross over. Can you use a Yoga mat for Pilates? Is a Yoga ball the same thing as a balance ball? And how are the movements different? What about the effects - do they differ as well?Here are some of the differences between Yoga and Pilates - the origin, movements, equipment, and effects.OriginYoga is an ancient art that originated in India. Yoga and various versions of it have been practiced for thousands of years. Yoga was practiced as a sort of worship - it was (and often still is) considered part of a pathway to achieving a higher spiritual state. Yoga was not originally intended to be practiced by just anyone who wanted to get in shape. On the other hand, Pilates originated...

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Pilates and Pregnancy - Do's and Don'ts

Pilates is gaining popularity as an exercise that is good during pregnancy. Many advocates have stepped forward to tout Pilates as a means for increasing muscle flexibility, strength, and balance. Even enthusiasts, though, agree that there are some precautions you should take in undertaking Pilates during pregnancy. Here are some do's and don'ts to keep in mind.Do:* Check with you healthcare provider. Whether you are seeing a midwife, OBGYN, or family doctor during your pregnancy, make sure he or she is aware that you want to do Pilates. Your healthcare provider should support your decision to do Pilates; if not, don't go against his or her advice. There may be reasons why you shouldn't pursue Pilates while pregnant, even if you know others who have done it.* Gently stretch your muscles. Your...

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How Pilates Can Improve Your Running

Running and Pilates are two different exercises - running involves a rather high-impact, repeated motion while Pilates is low-impact and varied. However, Pilates is said to be an excellent complement to running. Here are some of the ways these two exercises can work in synergy. Pilates and PosturePilates is said to improve posture by strengthening core muscles and making the practitioner aware of his or her body's position at any given time. Being aware of the body's alignment and posture can lower a runner's risk of injury. Being aware of correct posture can also reduce or prevent pain that may result from running. In other words, Pilates can help you run more effectively and safely.Core Muscle StrengthAs noted above, Pilates is geared toward strengthening the core muscle groups. These are...

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How Kids Can Benefit from Pilates

Childhood obesity is certainly a hot topic these days. There is no doubt that there is a problem - statistics continually show that more children are overweight than ever before. Children are also suffering from problems that do not have anything to do with obesity - asthma, allergies, autism, and other problems are increasing among children. How can Pilates help? Can kids benefit from these exercises? Here are some ideas as to how kids can benefit from Pilates.SittingIt may seem ironic, but Pilates may help kids with sitting still in the classroom (or anywhere else). The muscles emphasized and strengthened in Pilates are the core muscles, which are key for correct posture. A child whose core muscles are flexible and strong will probably find it a lot easier to sit still for long periods,...

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Pilates Equipment 101 - What You Might Need to Exercise at Home

If you are thinking about beginning Pilates, you might prefer to set things up at home rather than enroll in a class. If so, there is some basic equipment you might need to get started. Here are some items to consider.Stability BallA stability ball looks something like those bouncing balls with a handle that kids like to bounce around on - it's about that size. A stability ball is ribbed, and is intended to strengthen core muscles. These muscles are involved in balance, and balancing on the ball in various positions works these muscles. A somewhat cheaper alternative is a foam roller, which has basically the same function but it is firmer and therefore more challenging.MatProbably the least expensive of Pilates equipment, a mat is also the most essential. A mat helps provide grip and cushioning...

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The Many Health Benefits of Pilates

Pilates was begun by Joseph Pilates. In 1965, when he was 86 years old, Joseph Pilates claimed he never needed an aspirin and was never injured during his life. Everyone in the world would be happier if they did his exercises, he concluded. While no exercise can guarantee perfect health for its practitioner, Pilates comes close to delivering the pain-free body that its creator claimed. There are other health benefits associated with Pilates, too. Here are some of them.Strengthening Your BodyPilates focuses on strengthening the "core muscles" of the body. These muscles are said to be the basis for body strength; strength of limbs and extremities "stems" from a strong core. Pilates experts say that muscles should be strong, but flexible. Just getting hard muscles is not the point of Pilates,...

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Pilates for Beginners Checklist

Beginning a new exercise routine such as Pilates can seem daunting. It may look intimidating if you're not prepared. Here is a checklist for Pilates beginners that may help take away some of the uncertainty.The Pilates ClassTaking a group class is where many people start. If possible, see if you can observe a class before signing up. This gives you a chance to listen to and watch the instructor. He or she should have the following characteristics and qualifications:* They should give clear, easy-to-understand directions* They should be enthusiastic (not necessarily hyper - just an obvious love for what he or she does)* They should be certified to instruct* They should be doing the exercises along with the studentsA good instructor makes you feel like jumping right in and trying. The students...

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