Pilates – Mind & Body
Pilates is a system of mind control, relaxation and gentle exercise. It has grown in popularity with many athletes after being injured or just tired of having damaged bodies due to strenuous exercise. There is no more benefit of strenuous exercise and in fact most physical therapists and doctors are recommending against it. We only get one shot and one body, so the professional advice is to take care of our bones, muscles and joints. Since we all need to exercise, Pilates is the choice that many have begun taking advantage of. Joseph Pilates is the man that we can all thank for a wonderful exercise system that has revolutionized the world. Pilates drew from personal experience to develop what he called “Contrology”, meaning the control of the muscles. Now that sounds like a big – fancy word, but if you break it down it is basically “control”. That is exactly what the Pilates method is based on, the mind controlling the muscles and their movements. In order to workout using the Pilates system for the peak efficiency, one must be able to concentrate and really give the body a workout while exercising the mind. Pilates also believed that more doesn’t always equal better. What he meant by this statement was the fact that by performing more specialized and focused movements the body could better benefit. No matter how many repetitions that one performs, if they are doing them incorrectly they will not build or strengthen, but most likely injure themselves. So by concentrating and making every movement count, the individual muscles reap the most benefit. The gentleness of the Pilates system is the reason that many have decided on it for their full workout needs. It is gentle enough that a woman can exercise with it in the first three months of pregnancy until delivery, the injured can use it for rehabilitative purposes and the elderly have found strengthening and prevention with the Pilates system. It is also tough enough to challenge the most fit athletes, from football players to ballerinas. Regardless of the physical shape of the person or level, Pilates is an excellent system for all. Pilates envisioned and theorized that for the body to be fit the individual had to focus on what he termed “the powerhouse”. The powerhouse meant the core muscle groups; abdomen, back, buttocks, lower back and hips. After concentration on the powerhouse of the body, the energy, fitness and power would flow to the other areas such as the legs and arms. Some believe that Pilates took the theories of many exercises, such as Yoga and put them all together, which is quite possibly true. No matter where he got his ideas, it sells like hot cakes! What Is Pilates >> Pilates Exercise Equipment >> Pilates Training >> Pilates Workout |
