Pilates has become a very popular physical fitness system. But do you know who developed this exercise? It was developed in the early 20th century by a German named Joseph Pilates. So the name of this exercise is actually his last name.

When you learn more about Pilates benefits, you will find it interesting that the founder of this exercise method, Joseph, was a sickly child and has even suffered from asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever. But these diseases only encouraged him to dedicate his entire life to improving his physical strength. He later became a gymnast, a diver and a builder. He even became a professional boxer, circus performer and self defense trainer when he moved to England in 1912.

He believed that the modern life style, bad posture, and inefficient breathing are the cause of people’s poor health. Thus, he devised a series of exercises and training techniques. His exercise, Pilates, is based on the method of control. He believed that the mind can control the muscles. This physical fitness system focuses on the core postural muscles. These are the muscles that help keep the body balanced. They are also essential in providing support to the spine. This exercise system teaches breathing awareness and spine alignment. The aim of the exercise is to strengthen deep torso muscles. It also attempts to create a fusion of the mind and body.

When you learn more about Pilates you will quickly understand that this exercise was a method developed and refined over more than eighty five years of use and observation. Pilates also follows several principles: breathing, centering, concentration, control, precision, flow or efficiency of movement, and flexibility.

Breathing is vital to doing Pilates. Breathing is believed to aid in blood circulation. Proper breathing means more oxygen can enter the body and waste gases are purged out of the body. With more oxygen, the blood can work properly. It can also reduce tension in the upper neck and shoulders, as well as, oxygenate the muscles. So, when you are doing the exercise, you have to make sure that you are breathing.

Pilates is performed with the use of a machine, known as the Pilates reformer. This machine provides exercise resistance to build strength, develop proper alignment and posture, and increase flexibility. There are mats, which does not make use of reformers, which is becoming popular to users. With the mat, the individual’s core strength is garnered as resistance to increase flexibility and develop the core muscles. It is an exercise, which pregnant women can even use.

When you learn more about Pilates, you will understand that it is a safe exercise for the mind and body that you will enjoy, so why not try it now?

Joseph Pilates started the program when he was a nurse during the 1st World War to rehabilitate bed bound casualties.

Using just springs from mattresses, he was able to get injured soldiers to exercise and make their near atrophied muscles functioning once more. Today, there are over 11 million dedicated practitioners of the Pilates fitness system and over 14,000 licensed instructors in just the United States alone.

The use of pilates equipment might have given rise due to its growing popularity, and perhaps to give in to the demands of practitioners who probably resisted the idea that such fun… and very popular fitness practice would only require a mat.

Some Pilates tools have started being marketed recently and some have become favorites among the program’s enthusiasts. The following are five of some of the most popular specialized pilates equipment:

1. Pilates Reformer – Easily the most well known, this piece of exercise equipment is composed of straps, pulleys and springs that allows anyone to perform over 100 forms of exercise. It is essentially an apparatus that lets a person glide standing, kneeling, sitting or any other position required. The tension strengthens and tones the muscles.
2. Pilates Cadillac – Known in certain circles as the rack, it might appear as some form of a torture chamber but it allows the performance of over 80 forms of exercise. Looking like a table top with horizontal poles in the corners, the rack is an evolution of the makeshift exercise equipment originally designed by Joseph Pilates.
3. Pilates Resistance Bands – Also known as Thera Bands or Flex Bands, this stretchable latex strip provides slight resistance that is used for stretching, toning and sculpting muscles. It is not only affordable but also very portable.
4. Pilates Chair – Designed like a fancy stool and also referred to as the stability chair, more than 75 exercises can be performed on it and is perfect for rebalancing and stretching muscles.
5. Pilates Barrel – This look like a fully upholstered arch but it is a very effective rehabilitative tool particularly for those who have stressed, tensed, or injured muscles. This Pilates equipment also comes in different sizes to accommodate different body sizes.

Of course, at first when our instructor led us through The Hundred it was a joke! I was immediately convinced there was no way my arms would ever “pump” up and down 100 times while my lungs were breathing in and out at the correct moment in time. But that was then… and this is twelve months later… and I have learned so much about the Pilates basics and I have gotten so much better at the core Pilates exercises… that these days, I feel pretty good about myself!

Joseph H. Pilates served as a nurse during World War I and while working in England he developed a series of exercises to help bed-bound patients regain their strength. Joseph attached springs to the mattresses of bed-bound patients and designed exercises in which the patients would either push or pull against the springs to create resistance. While utilizing spring resistance, the patients were able to move in a controlled and safe fashion.

This allowed the muscles to work in such a manner that they were toned and lengthened at the same time. Even Joseph’s earliest method was based on the quality of the movement and not the quantity. In 1926, Joseph Pilates moved to New York City and introduced his method of conditioning to the United States. Dancers and athletes caught on immediately as they quickly developed an appreciation for the Pilates method.

When arriving here in the United States, Pilates used the Reformer for his clients. This piece of exercise equipment was designed like the hospital beds to which he attached springs in England. Complete with a sliding board and springs, Pilates could adjust the tension on the springs to create more or less tension based on the needs his exercise client.

A few decades later, Joseph decided to improve his method of Pilates. Previously a client had to utilize exercise equipment such as the Reformer to perform Pilates but with the development of a new exercise program, Joseph’s clients were able to perform the Pilates movements on mats without the use of any machines. This one change caused his following to increase even more.

Man, woman, boy, girl, in shape or out of shape… almost anyone can do Pilates. Many mothers-to-be even practice Pilates during pregnancy. Many report that the gentle movements of Pilates are easy on the body, especially joints during pregnancy.

One of the true current day pioneers of Pilates is Mari Winsor, the creator of Winsor Pilates. Mari Winsor created what she calls “dynamic sequencing”. Based on the original teachings of Joseph H. Pilates, Winsor’s theory is that exercises performed in a specific order and rhythm are more effective. Winsor Pilates has a strong and passionate following.

Pilates is a safe and purposeful exercise designed to improve your strength, flexibility, balance and coordination. Thank you Joseph H. Pilates… your vision has served us well. If you have never tried Pilates, perhaps with just a few minutes each week, you too might find a new exercise that will benefit you for years to come.

Mothers everywhere are always concerned about safety during pregnancy.

For those who either continue to exercise or who begin to exercise during pregnancy, safety is always of the utmost concern. It is important to always work with a Pilates instructor who has been trained specifically in prenatal exercises.

There is little research done specifically on the benefits of Pilates during pregnancy.

However, there is a significant amount of research done on the benefits of exercise in pregnancy in general to support its practice.

Pilates is a gentle form of exercise. It does not place undue stress on the joints.

Because it focuses on the “powerhouse’ or the core of the body, it works to improve balance, coordination and strength even during pregnancy. Pilates during pregnancy can be especially beneficial since it works to strengthen the abdominal core and spine which are the primary muscles supporting the expanding pregnancy belly.

The abdominal muscles work with the back muscles and the muscles of the pelvic floor to support the weight of the pregnancy and these same muscles are also the focus of Pilates…the “powerhouse”.

There are several good Pilates books and Pilates videos, specifically Pilates pregnancy videos, to guide you through the months of pregnancy.

Denise Austin is an expert in the field of health and exercise. She has several powerful exercise videos that are easy to follow and that are designed to provide you with easy exercises which target the core abdominal muscles.

My favorite Denise Austin book is Pilates for Every Body.

This book is designed to provide you with the guidance to strengthen, lengthen and tone your body through a complete body makeover. Denise is a wonderful teacher and I particularly love her very practical tips called “Denise-eology” that she shares throughout the book.

Another well respected teacher, Mari Winsor, is the author of The Pilates Pregnancy. Mari developed the Winsor Pilates method based on the fundamentals of Joseph H. Pilates. She is a sought after trainer for A-list celebrities.

It is important to listen to your body, especially during pregnancy. If certain movements are painful for you then work with your Pilates instructor to either modify those movements or eliminate them from your Pilates routine during pregnancy.

Is Pilates safe during pregnancy?

Yes, it is safe if you do your part to listen to your body and make adjustments as your pregnancy progresses.

So pick out some fabulous and comfy Pilates clothing, put on some soothing music, clear your mind and work with your beautiful body.

Enjoy your pregnancy! Here’s to a happy, healthy and safe pregnancy.

If you’re like me, you will find that you might have something just right already in your closet!

The most effective Pilates clothing is generally composed of the same three materials. It is a combination of cotton, nylon, and spandex. The cotton keeps the clothes comfortable for the movement your body will be doing.

The nylon and spandex are for flexibility and are essential in order to do the exercises. Without the stretch of these materials, you might as well be doing the stretches in the clothes you’re wearing right now! It would be very difficult and the clothes would not move with you, which is one of the most important aspects to remember when choosing your Pilates clothing.

If you are not comfortable while doing the exercises, you won’t want to continue them. Pilates is all about the physical and MENTAL parts of fitness. The exercise clothing needs to be breathable and non-resistant.

Along with the stretch of the Pilates clothing, it is also very important that you do not buy clothes that are very loose-fitting. Of course, you don’t want them to be too tight, but in the same breath, it is important that they are close-fitting.

Why is this so important?

Well, basically it just goes back to what Pilates really is. You really shouldn’t be too worried about clothes when doing your Pilates exercises. You should be more focused on the physical and mental exercise. You need something that won’t get in your way but also something that allows you to move.

If the outfits you currently have violate any of these key necessities it might be in your best interest to go shopping for something new! Plus if the clothes are comfortable, then your exercise won’t be determined by the stretch and versatility of them. Exercise to your full potential by making the right choices in your Pilates clothing!

The basics of Pilates include exercises designed to help you improve balance, coordination, strength and flexibility. Mental concentration on the exercises and mental concentration on specific breathing sequences combine to create this beneficial exercise.

The secret to Pilates is in the “powerhouse”. In Pilates basics you quickly learn that the core of the body, the abdomen, is called the “powerhouse”. All movements are designed to work your body as an entire unit, a whole, in order to provide an exercise program that works the muscles through their full range of motion.

It is the muscles of the abdomen and the spine that are the focus of “powerhouse” in Pilates. The abdominal muscles are made up of the rectus abdominis, the transverse abdominis, and the internal and external obliques. Pilates basics focuses on creating strong abdominal and spinal muscles which work together to improve strength, coordination, flexibility and balance.

While Pilates is a kinder and gentler exercise, similar to yoga, it should not be mistaken for a “wimpy” exercise. Ask devotees of Winsor Pilates and they will be the first to tell you that Mari Winsor has created a Pilates exercise designed around “dynamic sequencing”. With “dynamic sequencing” Winsor Pilates aggressively works the core of to create a longer and leaner body.

Because Pilates is not a joint-jarring exercise, it can be practiced by people at varying fitness levels. But make no mistake, this is indeed a workout. However, this exercise workout will leave you feeling invigorated and strong. Pilates will leave you feeling taller, leaner, energized and confident. The breathing exercises that accompany all Pilates movements will help you to feel calmer and more centered.

Why not give it a try? Pilates basics is simply a group of exercises accompanied by specific breathing routines designed to help strengthen, tone and lengthen your muscles…especially those of the “powerhouse”. More energy, confidence, strength…yes, that makes Pilates basics sound like a plan for me!