Pilates was founded by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century. Pilates focuses on the core muscles as well as the postural muscles all over the body, which helps keep the body balanced and spine supported. This type of exercise teaches breath awareness, muscle control, and mental strength.
Yoga Vs. Pilates
Pilates is somewhat similiar to Yoga, but it has its diffences as well. Yoga consists of maintaining body positions for excess amounts of time to build strength and endurance. It also focuses on inhaling and exhaling through the nose. Pilates uses total body movements to increase strength and endurance. Pilates also incorporates mat work and the Pilates machines while focusing on inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth.
Benefits of Pilates
- Refreshing Mind-Body Work-out
- Increase Flexibility/Balance
- Increase Strength/Endurance Without Bulking Up
- Prevent Injury
- New Challenge
- Increase Core Strength
- Improve Overall Mental Well-Being
- Improve Sleep
- Improve Circulation
- Improve Posture
- Improve Confidence About Self And Body
I am a new “convert” to Pilates. I’ve been a sedentary couch potato since my health broke down in 1989 (with a brief breatk in 2003 with a personal trainer that lasted about 6 months, with not much joy and some muscle gain). This year, at 278 lbs, I began Pilates. I’ve been doing it for a month and no one has to force me to go to my sessions. I’ve felt, seen, experienced the benefits from within a couple weeks. It’s even affected the way I walk. In ONE MONTH. My waist is trimmer, I’m less stiff when I get up in the morning. I can’t wait to see what I feel/look like in 6 months.
Unlike the dread of going to a regular gym, I look forward to the very difficult sessions of Pilates–the way I have to engage my mind, the focus on breathing (and I have very bad asthma since childhood, so this is helpful there, as well). I have the fortune of having an excellent teacher, too. Very responsive, cueing, encouraging.
I think it may not suit everyone, but it is helpful for this morbidly obese middle-aged gal. If I can do it–ill, creaky, and fat as I am–dang, anyone can start it.
The P.
I teach Pilates at a high end resort and what I love is to see how much people’s bodies can change when they do Pilates daily or every other day for a week or two. It’s a huge difference in strength, flexibility, and level of comfort.