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Pilates Literally Focuses on Inner Strength
by Maia Appleby
 If
you've spent any time at all in fitness circles over the past few
years, you've heard mention of "core conditioning", "matwork" or "Pilates",
all basically synonymous terms. Gyms worldwide are offering classes
in this discipline, replacing many high-impact activities like kickboxing
and step aerobics. Celebrities including Marisa Tomei, Patrick Swayze,
Vanessa Williams and Jamie Lee Curtis pitch it with great zeal. What
on Earth is it???
One good way to define Pilates is to call it "yoga with movement".
The body and breath are emphasized as one unit; as each movement flows
into another, the mind is fully engaged in the process. There's a
high emphasis on breath and form, and muscles are being stretched
and strengthened simultaneously, thus creating a longer, leaner body.
Joseph H. Pilates, who developed this method of exercise, made this
claim: "In ten sessions, you will feel the difference. In twenty,
you will see the difference, and in thirty, you'll have a whole new
body." That's quite a claim, but nearly a century later, bodies are
definitely changing, proving him right.
Pilates tones up the torso like no other discipline. The abs, hips,
buttocks and lower back work together as the body's "powerhouse",
and all other movements are generated from this area outward. Whereas
the conventional crunch works the Rectus Abdominis (the large "six-pack"
muscle in the center of the abdomen), Pilates movements challenge
the deeper, often neglected abdominal muscles, creating an amazingly
strong core.
Borrowing a lot of moves from dance therapy, Pilates actually changes
the way people use their bodies. Students who take up this exercise
begin to move more gracefully, with better posture and more fluidity.
Contrary to popular belief, Pilates does not have to cost you an
arm and a leg (pardon the quip). Studios charge quite a bit for instruction
and use of their equipment, but an entire routine can actually be
done using nothing but a mat. Although it's preferable to take a few
sessions with the guidance of an instructor, you certainly can reap
the benefits without it. CLICK
HERE to see our Pilates accessories and videos.
One great thing about Pilates is the way it engages your body and
mind. I'm a very down-to-earth person who eats red meat and doesn't
talk this way very often, but the matwork that I do really does give
me a sense of this connection. Unlike many fitness regimens, Pilates
leaves no room for comparison with others. Any improvements that result
will come from within, both literally and figuratively, and that's
the beauty of it. It illustrates the concept that you are fully accountable
for yourself. Joseph Pilates couldn't have stated this better when
he said, "Physical fitness can neither be achieved by wishful thinking
nor outright purchase."
I'll end with a testimonial: Pilates matwork has helped me tremendously
since I had an eight-pound, two-ounce baby last June! If you'd like
to try it, please do I recommend it with the utmost confidence.
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