| We all know that exercise is vital to keeping your | | | | endurance in such a way that everyone can do it. |
| body healthy. There are three main types of | | | | There is no impact whatsoever and the risk of injury |
| exercise: cardiovascular exercise, which speeds up | | | | is extremely low. |
| your heart rate, strength training, which builds your | | | | Another great appeal of Pilates is that you can do a |
| muscles and strengthens your bones and flexibility | | | | lot in a very short amount of time. For those people |
| exercises, which work on the connective tissues of | | | | who complain they never have enough time to fit |
| the body. Each one of these types of exercises is | | | | exercise in, Pilates is a very viable solution. In just as |
| important for creating a body that is balanced and in | | | | little as ten minutes a day, you will start to see |
| harmony. But what if you have an injury or | | | | results. You may notice you sit up a bit straighter or |
| pre-existing health condition that prevents you from | | | | your stomach is just a little bit flatter. What better |
| engaging in vigorous exercise? What can do to stay | | | | way to motivate you to doing more exercise than |
| in shape? | | | | tangible proof? |
| Pilates is a wonderful, no-impact type of exercise | | | | Pilates is also a wonderful exercise to promote |
| that focuses on strengthening the muscles while | | | | relaxation. During a Pilates sequence, your focus is on |
| simultaneously working on increasing flexibility. Pilates | | | | the movement and your breath. You will not be able |
| was created by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s with the | | | | to move fluidly without this concentration. Focusing |
| premise of strengthening the abdominal muscles in | | | | on the present motion and moment allows your mind |
| order to support the spine. Proper spinal support | | | | to relax, while the controlled breathing techniques |
| through strong core muscles reduces the risk of back | | | | allow your body to relax. You will most likely feel |
| injury and also helps correct poor posture. Coupled | | | | lengthened, stronger and more relaxed when you |
| with focused breath techniques, Pilates focuses | | | | finish your Pilates session than when you started. It is |
| mostly strengthening the abdominal, gluteal and back | | | | a great body/mind connection exercise. |
| muscles. | | | | Whether you have asthma, an injury that prevents |
| In addition, Pilates also offers the benefit of helping a | | | | you from regular exercise or a jam-packed schedule |
| body move more gracefully and fluid. Ironically, the | | | | that does not allow for much exercise, Pilates can |
| strength training part is due to resistance from your | | | | help you achieve a healthier body on many different |
| own body weight. The exercises in a typical Pilates | | | | levels. Increased flexibility will help reduce risk of |
| sequence is similar to vinyasa yoga in that you flow | | | | injury and the movements will stimulate your immune |
| from one exercise to another instead of just holding | | | | system to help prevent illness. The focused breathing |
| one position at a time. The result is beautifully toned, | | | | helps to relax your mind and relieve stress, so you |
| lean muscles. Not to mention, more grace in your gait | | | | can face your day calmer, stronger and healthier. |
| as well. This muscle training also helps improve | | | | |