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Although many people think that pilates is a new workout that just appeared on the marked a couple of years ago, it was actually created around the turn of the 20th century by Joseph Pilates. Unlike many western workouts, the pilates method blends both eastern and western philosophies to exercise both your mind and your body.

Pilates focuses on giving you a thinking body. Although this concept may sound strange, Joseph Pilates believed that mastering your body meant mastering your mind. For this reason, he called his method “Contrology”. By performing his prescribed movements, you can be sure that over time, you will master both your body and your mind.

Some people might think Pilates is an easy workout, but that’s usually only those people who have never tried performing the movements. Although pilates may seem easy to someone watching from the sidelines, actually performing the exercises is quite difficult and requires practice.

During practice, it’s common for your arms, legs, and abdominals to start shaking. That is because pilates pinpoints areas of weakness, lack of coordination, and imbalances in your body. To continue holding these positions requires strong mental concentration. Pushing through your weaknesses requires just as much mental strength and practice as it does physical strength and practice. But at the end of the day, you will feel better about yourself (and your body) because you pushed yourself beyond your limitations and emerged victorious on the other side.

Pilates requires perseverance and stays without you long after you’ve completed your workout for the day. Pilates creates an awareness of your body and allows you to have more self-discipline and control.



By: C. J. Harrison

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gaiam asked:

Pilates Lower Body Workout with Jillian Hessel by Gaiam is a comprehensive lower body Pilates workout that will strengthen your core and help you develop long, supple legs and lean muscle in the rear and hips. If you enjoy this Pilates workout with Jillian Hessel, Gaiam offers additional Pilates workouts at www.gaiam.com

When it comes to health and being healthy physical exercise is the most important tasks you can integrate into your life, even so, Pilates along with every other workouts isn’t just for health reasons any longer. Exercising is an outstanding facet of staying healthy, losing weight, keeping diseases away, strengthening your state of mind and is also a way of receiving more energy. Nearly all individuals presume that people just exercise for ONE of the grounds above, but a lot of other people will tell you it’s an over-all state of all the aforementioned attributes. Pilates has been around for quite some time now but it appears to be having a major come back within the community and for good reason! This system was originated in the early 20th century by a man named Joseph Pilates from Germany and it primarily focuses on the core postural muscles which aid in keeping the body well-balanced and provides support for the backbone. From now until 2005 over 11 million people across the United States alone, apply this form of exercise to their everyday lives!

There are various exercises within Pilates that you can try, some of these involve machines and some do not but from what I have realized through personalized experience it always seems to work out better if you have an existent machine. I have discovered a few really pleasant machines that are available to consumers regarding these Pilates machines so listed below I will name few of them as well as some immediate information that you should know about.

Stamina AeroPilates Pro XP 557 Reformer XP557 -

This is for the individual who takes their home Pilates reformer workout program seriously and who wishes to take the traditional Pilates exercise program to the next level with the add-on of cardio. The Pro XP557 was produced eight inches longer than general reformers to accommodate all heights, throughout all Pilates exercises. Four springs, each one with different resistor levels, allow you to refine your workout fluctuations even further. Achieve the long, lean Pilates body as you improve your cardiovascular fitness with the Free-Form Rebounder. You will lose weight and tone the pelvic arches, thighs, and abdominal! Using the AeroPilates Pro is the most dependable, most effective way to perform Pilates exercises without an authorized teacher, and with the included videos, anyone can learn to utilize the machine!

Pilates Premier Reformer -

The compact Pilates Premier XP permits you to acquire greater balance, more coordination, and improved posture. As you follow along with Pilates expert Marjolein Brugman’s workout (video included), you will gently stretch and strengthen arms, legs, back, neck, shoulders, abdominal muscles, and torso. Your chest will expand for deeper external respiration so you finish your workout feeling energized and focused. Four industrial, elastic cords render five levels of workout resistance and the adjustable headrest and extensive high-density foam shoulder pads offer supplemental reinforcement and comfort. The quiet, ultra-smooth rollers and gliders allow for a safe, effective workout, and the changeable straps and hand grips fit any user. By merely removing the foot bar, you can easily stash away the Premier XP when not in use.

Pro XP 556 Reformer XP556 -

This takes the conventional Pilates workout routine to the next level for a fun, healthy, and comfortable Pilates workout with the addition of cardio training like the one mentioned above. Developed by Joseph Hubertus Pilates approximately 80 years ago, the Pilates exercise system conditions flexibility, posture, and strength. With the purpose of establishing center strength, stability, and flexibility. The Pro makes difficult Pilates exercises simpler to execute properly, effectively, safely and provides optimal challenge and usability for seasoned Pilates trainers and beginners alike.

All three of these machines noted above do have a lot of properties that are similar but the point you should observe when purchasing one of these machines is that they also all have unique options available to you the user. In the end it will depend on which one you will feel more comfortable with and which one you will use! Have fun!



By: Kristi Ambrose

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nutwiisystem asked:

Demo video for www.nutwiisystem.com

Pilates is an excellent way to trim down your body and strengthen core muscles
without bulking up. This style of exercise will teach you how to control your
body’s movements and increase your flexibility and grace. This is the secret to
many top model’s and celebrity’s beautiful physique.

This is one of the best ways to get a workout since it allows you to exercise at
home whenever you have the time. It is recommended that you do it at least three
times a week. With no commuting to the gym, your time will be your own.

There are two general types of Pilates: one requires equipment, the other only
requires a mat. Previously, equipment was too bulky for people to bring home,
but now companies have begun to fill the market niche for home workout
equipment. DVDs have been made to give you different choices for workouts,
either on a mat or with the special equipment.

Before buying a DVD and starting the workout, it is recommended that you take a
couple of Pilates classes at your local recreation center. This allows your
technique to be corrected to prevent injuries later on.

DVDs and videos are made from beginner to advanced levels, and you will be able
to do most of the offered workouts in a small space. Consider purchasing small,
inexpensive rings and rollers that allow for variations in the routine and
ensure it doesn’t get boring.

Reformers are a popular Pilates workout machine as they assist in the workout,
or add resistance when necessary. They use a series of springs and ropes to
improve your body tone.

If you don’t have much space, select the Pilates IQ Reformer. It shortens for
easy storage in a closet or under a bed. Specific videos made for this type of
machine encourage consistent workouts that will help you lose weight and
increase muscle tone.

The Allegro Reformer is great if several people in your family are planning to
use Pilates as their workout since it can adjust to accommodate various heights.
It comes with a free DVD to show you how to use the machine, plus a workout.
The highest quality Pilates equipment for home use is the Studio Reformer – it
can even match the furniture! It is for professionals or consumers who have the
budget for luxury. Choose between cherry, walnut, or mahogany, and upholstery
colors in 88 different shades.

Smaller (and cheaper!) pieces of equipment include circles or rings which
improve balance and flexibility. Two popular brand names are the Ultra Fit
Circle and Flex Ring Toner. They are made of flexible plastic with two padded
handles on the inside and outside to allow for resistance as you stretch various
muscles.

Foam rollers, mats, fit balls, balance boards, rotator discs, exercise bands,
and reformer foot plates or jumper boards, make up the rest of the equipment you
can purchase at minimal expense. Only the mat and a DVD or video are necessary
for Pilates, but the other equipment can improve your workout and make it more
interesting.



By: Rebecca Naylor

About the Author:

motleyfitness asked:

Go to www.motleyfitness.com to order my workout DVD’s and digital downloads for all levels! These will be weekly abridged Pilates workouts focusing on 3-4 exercises. You can do these in the morning, evening, after your regular workout, or combine several together for a fuller Pilates experience! These workouts are for all fitness levels and give clear, concise instruction from me Sean Vigue! Always use control when performing these exercises and modify as needed. Here is the Podcast link:

alisawyattfitness asked:

www.alisawyatt.com Alisa takes you through the 5 exercises of the Stomach Series. Narrow your waistline and Flatten your tummy in this FREE 6 minute workout. See Alisa’s other workouts on Youtube and check out her ADVANCED and INTERMEDIATE PILATES WORKOUT DVD’s and downloads at www.ALISAWYATT.com Thanks for watching everyone

Kimberly M asked:


I am looking to start a weight loss plan. I purchased a Pilates dvd by Lara Hudson called 10 minute solution. (with 5 10 min. workouts that you can combine for a 50 min. total body workout) Has anyone used Pilates for weight loss? How well did it work for you? I am looking to lose a total of 57 lbs.

Mindbitesdotcom asked:

www.mindbites.com Want an effective ab workout but don’t like to work that hard? Then try this 15 minute Pilates workout in which you’ll do lots of flat ab exercises, but at a pace that’s gentle, yet thorough! Don’t be daunted… anyone can tackle this Pilates workout and start experiencing the results. This video Pilates lesson is part of a broader catalog of lessons available through www.ultimatepilatesworkouts.com, a subscription-based Pilates video site. The creators of Ultimate Pilates Workouts, Katherine Kimberly Corp are the founders of Pilates on Fifth (http a well-known and well-respected Pilates studio in NYC. Katherine and Kimberly Corp own and operate Manhattans largest Pilates studio, Pilates on Fifth. Their diverse blend of experiences from corporate women to Radio City Rockettes to studio owners gives them a rare understanding of both active and inactive peoples needs. They are committed to helping regular people get more life out of their years through fitness. They launched the Pilates on Fifth Video Podcast in June of 2007, which quickly rose to #1 in the health section of iTunes. The Japanese version of the podcast, The New York Pilates Video Podcast, was similarly successful.

cyclinginform asked:

Pilates provides some of the best corrective movement and strength exercises available today. Doing Pilates regularly will help improve your general wellbeing, cycling performance and reduce the chance of injury. You can use this DVD to do Pilates at home or when you are travelling and fit your Pilates workouts to your own schedule. The stretching and warm up exercises on this DVD can be done after you have been cycling or as the warm-up for the Pilates on this DVD. It is recommended that you do stretching after every time you cycle and Pilates two to three times a week on your recovery or rest days. The Pilates exercises on this DVD have been specifically selected for cyclists. This DVD has been created to give you the most current, precise, simple and effective Pilates exercises available to make the most use of your time. This DVD can be purchased from www.cycling-inform.com/store