| I have helped many clients over the years with the | | | | fundamentals BEFORE you get too far involved in |
| exciting and rewarding exercise program called | | | | group classes. The problem is, if you start off with the |
| “Pilates”. Through this program clients have seen | | | | wrong basics you will have limited results, may |
| great improvement with their body alignment, posture, | | | | experience discomfort in areas that are not meant to, |
| strength, flexibility and core stability. | | | | and even risk real injury. Not to mention, its much more |
| I've also seen many people try group Pilates classes | | | | difficult to re-learn correct technique once you've |
| on their own only to be frustrated by its unique | | | | practiced it the wrong way. |
| terminology and set of exercises. | | | | Here's a quick test to see if you're ready to take full |
| Pilates is a low impact high result workout. It constantly | | | | advantage of your next Pilates class: are you able to |
| uses your core muscles (abdominals, pelvic floor, | | | | demonstrate correct form (or at least know what it is) |
| transverse muscles, obliques, lats and muscles | | | | on techniques such as correct breathing, neutral spine, |
| supporting the back & spine) by focusing first on | | | | pelvic floor lifts, head floats, pelvic stability... etc. If not, |
| your intrinsic, smaller stabilizing muscles, then building | | | | you probably should get some individual help in |
| outward to the superficial, more surface muscles. | | | | understanding these crucial terms and techniques to |
| Pilates is really about “total wellness”; feeling | | | | get you back on the right track. A couple of private |
| great both mind and body. While there are many | | | | sessions from a certified Pilates instructor would be a |
| benefits to Pilates the one I'm most excited about is | | | | great place to start. |
| the feeling of better body awareness and increased | | | | Once you've learned the fundamentals you'll be able to |
| energy. You literally feel lighter on your feet as your | | | | pick up much more easily many of the over 300 |
| spine lengthens and your body opens. | | | | exercises that Joseph Pilates (founder of Pilates |
| The key to a successful Pilates program is to learn the | | | | exercises) has put together. |