If you want a flexible body and improve your core body’s strength, the pilates method is the way to way to go. The technique is a unique and different way to exercise, and it involves more than just a series of exercises. Joseph Pilates, the man who developed Pilates designed it to help users developed leaner and longer muscles, establish core stability and strength and to connect their minds with their bodies. Anyone can use Pilates exercises regardless of their fitness and health levels, and the results are improved strength, flexibility, balance, posture coordination and mental focus. All these positive results of the exercise will change how you feel, move and feel for the rest of your life if you make it a habit.
There are two types of pirates, namely: Mat-based Pilate and Equipment-based Pilates. Mat-based Pilates involves a series of exercise performed on the floor using both your body and gravity to provide the needed resistance. The method aims at conditioning the deeper, supporting muscles of your body improve aspects like balance, coordination and posture.
Equipment-based Pilates, on the other hand, involves the use of equipment that can offer resistance to muscles.
Equipment needed for Pilates
Pilates Table: The pilates table is a specially designed table to support as one performs movements requiring the body to be elevated. The table should be strong enough to avoid injuries caused by accidents like falls and breaks.
Pirates Mat: You need a Pilates mat to avoid discomfort when exercising on a hard surface. These mats are inexpensive and are readily available in both online and land-based stores. You need a mat for most types of Pilates.
Exercise balls: You need an exercise ball in a few of the pilates exercises like when forcing the muscles to engage and stabilise the whole body using the balancing difficulty caused by a ball. The two ball types commonly used in pilates exercises are the standard exercise ball and the mini Pilate ball.
Pilates at home vs at the gym
Both Pilates at home and at the gym can give you positive results if you have anything you need and the willingness to make the exercises an everyday habit. People who did Pilates when it was still new did not have the home options as there were no instruction videos that one can follow and the equipment used took up a lot of space.
Nowadays, you can access a variety of exercise videos and equipment in the comfort of your home. The benefits of doing Pilates at home are that you can do the exercise at any time, unlike when you have to rely on the schedule of the gym. You will also move at your own pace as you will not feel pressurised by the success of others.
Most of the equipment needed are now available online and at affordable prices. The disadvantage of home pilates is that you don’t get the opportunity to work one-on-one with an experienced pilates instructor. A pilates instructor ensures that you exercise correctly to avoid injury, plus they will also ensure that you are completing the exercises.
People who have their Pilates exercises at the gym also enjoy some benefits and face some challenges. One advantage is that you will have a trained instructor to guide you and ensure that you perform the exercises correctly. You also eliminate the need to buy and store the equipment needed for the sessions. The drawbacks of Pilates at the gym are that it is not as flexible as exercising at home, plus you will have to pay for the services.
Benefits of Pilates
Pilates has a lot of benefits to users, including balanced muscles on both sides of your body, improved flexibility and improved posture. Other benefits include increased lung capacity, better coordination and balance, increased body awareness, enhanced concentration, injury prevention and rehabilitation and increased body awareness.
People who have tried the exercise also find it useful in increasing muscle strength and muscle tone, especially on core muscles and areas such as arms, shoulders, feet and legs. Pilates is also suitable for everyone irrespective of their gender, health status and age, plus you can practise it anywhere, including your home and office.