- "Pilates has made my body smart. That's how it works. It makes you strong from the inside out and coordinates your systems to work so well
- together that your actual body becomes a thinking organism. Do Pilates. Get smarter." - Alycea Ungaro, author of About.com Pilates and Instructor
1. Pilates is Whole-Body Fitness
Unlike some forms of exercise, Pilates does not over-develop some parts of the body and neglect others. While Pilates training focuses on core strength, it trains the body as an integrated whole. Pilates workouts promote strength and balanced muscle development as well as flexibility and increased range of motion for the joints.
Attention to core support and full-body fitness -- including the breath and the mind -- provide a level of integrative fitness that is hard to find elsewhere. It is also the reason that Pilates is so popular in rehab scenarios, as well as with athletes who find that Pilates is a great foundation for any kind of movement they do.
2. Adaptable to Many Fitness Levels and Needs
Whether you are a senior just starting to exercise, an elite athlete or somewhere in between, the foundations of Pilates movement apply to you. Building from core strength, focusing on proper alignment, and a body/mind integrative approach make Pilates accessible to all. With thousands of possible exercises and modifications, Pilates workouts can be tailored to individual needs.
3. Creates Strength Without Bulk
Long, lean muscles are the name of the game here. In Pilates, we are not looking to build muscles for show. We are building toned muscles that work perfectly within the context of the body as a whole, and the functional fitness needs of a person as they move through life.
One of the ways that Pilates creates long, strong muscles is by taking advantage of a type of muscle contraction called an eccentric contraction.
4. Increases Flexibility
In Pilates, we work toward a safe increase in length and stretch of the muscles and range of motion within the joints. You won't find quite as much "pretzel logic" in Pilates as you might in yoga, but a body that can stretch and bend to meet the flow of life is a very realistic goal.
5. Develops Core Strength
The core muscles of the body are the deep muscles of the back, abdomen, and pelvic floor. These are the muscles we rely on to support a strong, supple back, good posture, and efficient movement patterns. When the core is strong, the frame of the body is supported. This means the neck and shoulders can relax, and the rest of the muscles and joints are freed to do their jobs -- and not more. A nice side benefit is that the core training promotes the flat abs that we all covet.
6. Improves Posture
Good posture is a reflection good alignment supported by a strong core. It is a position from which one can move freely. Starting with Pilates movement fundamentals and moving through mat and equipment exercises, Pilates trains the body to express itself with strength and harmony. You can see this in the beautiful posture of those who practice Pilates.
7. Increases Energy
It might seem like a paradox, but the more you exercise, the more energy you have and the more you feel like doing (to a point, of course). Pilates gets the breath and circulation moving, stimulates the spine and muscles, and floods the body with the good feelings one gets from exercising the whole body.
8. Promotes Weight Loss and Long, Lean Appearance
If you practice Pilates regularly, it will change your body. Known for creating long, strong muscles and a leaner look; Pilates improves muscle tone, balances musculature, supports beautiful posture, and teaches you to move with ease and grace. All of these things will make you look and feel very fit.
If you want to lose weight, the formula for weight loss remains the same: Burn more calories than you take in. As a full-body fitness method, Pilates will help you do that. Combined with aerobic activity, Pilates becomes a prime weight loss and body toning tool.
9. Increases Awareness - Body/Mind Connection
Joseph Pilates was adamant that Pilates, or contrology as he called it, was about "the complete coordination of body, mind, and spirit." This is one of the secrets of Pilates exercise: we practice each movement with total attention. When we exercise in this way, the body and mind unite to bring forth the most benefit possible from each exercise. The Pilates principles -- centering, concentration, control, precision, breath, and flow -- are key concepts that we use to integrate body and mind.
Thus the overall reward of "Do Pilates and Get Smarter."
As B.K.S. Iyengar, creator of Iyengar Yoga and Yoga Master said, to know about Yoga you have to do it. All the reading about Yoga, thinking about Yoga and hearing others speak, will not give you the true awareness of what Yoga is and what it is truly about. One must experience Yoga to know what Yoga is and the transformation it can create.
The same can be said about Pilates. So...stop thinking about it and Come Do IT!
Ongoing Classes at the Haven 4 weekday mornings weekly. Take a class anytime- The Sooner the Better!- to directly experience the many benefits of Pilates.
Monday Tuesday Thursday Friday
___________________________________________________________________
The above message was distributed by News Boquete, a free subscription-based community service.
News Boquete's ONLY public email address is news.boquete@gmail.com.
For more info and use policy, visit https://dl.dropbox.com/u/105014438/News_Boquete/News_Boquete_Policy.pdf.
If replying to this message, reply ONLY to the ORIGINATOR (typically your email application's 'Reply To' function works).
To stop receiving these emails, send a message to news.boquete@gmail.com with the word unsubscribe in the subject line or body of the message.
© 2014, News Boquete. All rights reserved. Public redistribution strictly prohibited without prior written permission.
To support the Bid 4 Boquete charity, visit www.bid4boquete.com and www.facebook.com/bid4boquete.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.