Demystifying Pilates

I get a lot of emails asking about Pilates, which is something I have never tried! (Soon, I promise!)  So I’ve asked some fellow bloggers to explain Pilates and why it should be a part of our fitness routine.   Today’s guest post is from Hannah,   also known as Pilates Hottie.

Hello to all you Workout Mommy readers!  Thanks to Lisa for asking me to do a guest post on her site.  I am a Pilates instructor and plan on demystifying this thing they call Pilates.  You may have heard about Pilates on TV, about your favorite celeb doing it, or seen it on the gym class schedule.  As is the case with most other workouts anybody can do Pilates.  It can be modified for the beginner to the elite athlete.

First off I’ll give you a little history.  Pilates was created by Joseph Pilates, however he called it Contrology.    Growing up Pilates studied anatomy and various different exercises. Later he spent time as an athlete, circus performer, as well as being interned in a war camp.  Much of the Pilates equipment used today stemmed from taking bed springs and using it to rehab fellow internees.   Later on he was offered to train the German army using his method, but declined  due to political differences and headed  to America. He then opened the first Pilates studio in New York in approx 1926.

Now let’s talk about what you do in a Pilates class or private lesson.  You will either be doing mat exercises which can be done without any equipment, or you can take a lesson on the equipment which provides some different exercises as well as different challenges. There is an emphasis on keeping your core engaged throughout all the exercises (as well as your whole day) which is also referred to as your powerhouse.  Pilates is about creating uniformity in your body which improves your posture and prevents injuries.   You will then be taken through a series of exercises that build on themselves as you improve your strength, flexibility and stamina.  There is also an emphasis on breathing properly which allows you to maintain control as well as get deeper into the exercise.

Key points to remember when you are doing Pilates.  Listen to your body. Don’t try to copy what your neighbor is doing stay at your level.  Be patient and do the exercise with precision and control. You don’t want to feel like you are flailing about or rushing through them.

I heard the following quote from a friend of mine “Pilates is easy unless you are doing it right!”  I hope this information gives you a broader understanding of what Pilates is about.  Feel free to contact me with any questions over at my blog pilateshottie.blogspot.com.
photo credit: twenty_questions

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