Pilates are a set of exercises that were invented by Joseph Pilates to strengthen his body and to maintain it well. Joseph was a very weak kid and so he felt the need to develop his own set of exercises, hence the name Pilates. He borrowed the set of exercises from ancient Romans and Greeks and his exercises are based on the Zen philosophy of yoga.
It was during World War 2 in Germany that Joseph introduced his set of Pilate exercises to fellow soldiers in the German camp. The set of exercise made the Germans to ward off diseases and increase their overall strength. The exercise taught to the interns at that time became the basis of today's Pilate exercises. Pilate exercises enable one to improve their flexibility and strength through a variety of stretching and balancing movements.
Pilates prove to be very beneficial for dancers as they improve the dancer's flexibility and their bodies become resistant to injuries. Many athletes and other celebrities also go for Pilates to improve their overall body fitness. Pilates prevent injury to the body overall and also improve the posture of the person. Pilates help in straightening the body from inside as well as outside. Following Pilate exercises does not only the body physically but also relieves stress and anxiety. Hence Pilate exercises are termed to be very similar to yoga.
Pilates are also recommended for those people with back problems. Pilates help in straightening the back and prevent back pain. Pilate exercises are normally practiced by girls and women. Pilate exercises are expected to increase one's mobility of the joints and also aids in improving blood circulation. They also help in flattening the stomach and removing excess fat from thighs and waist. Pilate exercises are also favored by senior and overweight people as they don't involve heavy exercises and there is no jumping and lifting involved. Pilates reduce stiffness in joints and also prevents osteoporosis.
Pilate work best for pregnant women who would like to get back in shape after their pregnancy. Pilates prove to be a good exercise, not only for the body but for the mind as well. The exercises have gained popularity worldwide and more and more people are reaping the benefits of doing Pilate exercises. Pilates prove to be one of the few exercises that use fewer and controlled movements that require proper control and form. One can do the exercises in the comforts of the home for just 3 times a week and still gain positive results.
Related Articles
Yoga Versus Pilates - Which Should I Do?
By: Mike Singh | 15/11/2005 | Fitness
Many have heard of yoga and Pilates. But, not everyone realizes that there are several differences between these two types of exercising regimens. In fact, yoga is hardly classified as just an exercise program. Each of these methods are quite powerful
Fitness Programs
By: John Mac | 10/03/2006 | Fitness
There are many fitness programs available these days all promising to be one of the best available & the ideal one for you. Which is best for you ?
All About Pilates From The Pilates Princess
By: Tammy Foster | 09/06/2007 | Advice
Pilates has been a lifesaver for me!
What is Pilates, you might ask, and just how did it save my life?
Well, please let me tell you a story.
Pilates, pronounced puh-lah-teez, was originally developed by Joseph H. Pilates, who was working as a nurse in England...
What is the Difference Between Yoga and Pilates?
By: Jess Harley | 05/12/2007 | Health
Let's face it, being a woman is stressful. Most of us have to hold down careers, raise a family, keep a clean house and have dinner on the table by 6pm. Our physical health and fitness
13 Ways for Maximizing your Exercise Workout!
By: Neelima Reddy | 10/01/2008 | Health
The first step in improving your health is finding the time to exercise. Every one run short on time these days but by following some of these ways, you can maximize your workout time.
Exercise for A Healthier You
By: Michael Sampson | 22/01/2006 | Fitness
With the advent of modern technology, it seems that today very few people are getting enough exercise. Some people who sit all day in front of the computer and the others who confine themselves to an office do not give their body enough work out. Exercise
Tell Me All About Pilates
By: Tammy Foster | 10/06/2007 | Medicine
What is Pilates?
That's a great question and if you have never given this form of exercise a shot then perhaps it is time that you get up off the couch and see what the craze is all about.
Pilates, originally developed by Joseph H. Pilates, is a...
Low-impact Exercises are Fun and Healthy
By: Raymond Lee | 30/08/2007 | Fitness
As you can see, a little activity can go a long way towards protecting your body. Just give it a try and I promise you that you will notice a difference.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Birth Control Effect Weight Loss?
By: mealybug1010 | 23-07-2008
I have tried to lose weight all summer and the scale only budges a pound or two. I am on LoEstrin 24 birth control and that is the only reason I can think of as to why I have not been losing. Anyone else have this problem with bc? I would rather not go off of it, but if it meas not losing the weight I will.
Pain but i exercise through the pain
By: b4nat | 23-07-2008
I am a 47 year old male i reitred from the military about 5 years ago i have severe authritus. it really bothers me i have it in both knees and my left hip. I still exercise also. but when i am sitting my left hip joint throbs something terrible. is there any relief that i can try. i was told i was to young for any type of joint replacement surgery.
What is the best way to lose the most weight in ...
By: taylor | 22-07-2008
what is the best way to lose the most weight in the least amount of time?
Got a question about diet & fitness? Type your ...
By: souziep | 22-07-2008
Got a question about diet & fitness? Type your question here...
Hello, I just participated in a 10k walkathon on Sunday, its about 6.2 miles, my question is, when will it show up on the scale, I must have lost something, but so far, 3 days later ,it says I GAINED, any ideas?
I am new to this and walking in a marathon,
sue
I eat and im full, but after a little bit im ...
By: ipuppy95 | 22-07-2008
i eat and im full, but after a little bit im hungrey again. any help?
Should one eat breakfast,lunch and dinner plus a ...
By: Sputnik | 22-07-2008
Should one eat breakfast,lunch and dinner plus a snack too speed up metabolism and too lose weight?
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Fitness Articles
Different Type of Exercises
By: prabakar | 26/07/2008
People who suffer from sciatica will often feel pain in their leg which can travel from the back of their thigh up to the thigh and in some cases up to the hip or down towards the foot. Exercise is actually extremely important to our spine especially in order to keep the discs within the spine healthy. However the actual sciatica exercises a person will use to treat the problem will depend on what the actual cause of the pain is.
Asthma and the Stomach
By: Alien | 26/07/2008
More and more clearly there seems to be some relationship between bronchial asthma and stomach function. Asthmatics often suffer from digestive problems, frequently complaining about excess stomach acid.
Asthma and Related Illnesses
By: Alien | 26/07/2008
Althought asthma is a disease of the lungs, it may be influenced by illnesses that affect other parts of the body. In many asthma patients, treating these related illnesses even may improve their bronchial asthma condition.
Lower Body Exercise Secrets of the Stars
By: Lyla Feldman | 25/07/2008
There are many celebrities who are famous for their body parts and even get them insured for pricey amounts of money. For example, when you think of Jennifer Lopez or Kim Kardashian what comes to mind? Besides the fact that they are extremely talented and wealthy what do they have in common? Everyone wishes they had their behinds. The million dollar question is how do you get a nice, round attractive bottom without resorting to implants or butt pads?
Strength Training Exercise
By: prabakar | 25/07/2008
Take your time when toning your body. You can maximize the benefit of a biceps strength training exercise, a back strength training exercise, a chest strength training exercise, and so on, by doing them in small blocks of time every day. Don't be discouraged from your fitness walking regimen.
Best Workouts for Your Health
By: prabakar | 25/07/2008
Workouts For You custom designs each program based on individual needs, lifestyle and goals to ensure that each client is working out using exercises that are most efficient for them. Plus, if you ever have any questions about any part of your WFY training program, you can e-mail your trainer and you'll receive a quick response. Many workplaces now have showers, so you can freshen up afterwards.
Using Information From Testing
By: Alien | 25/07/2008
Perhaps clearer explanations of management methods are needed. There are several methods of managing insulin, as follows: Method 1: Complete Management by the Physician. The physician mayor may not have the patient do self-blood-sugar monitoring.
Diabetes - Gaining Their Support
By: Alien | 25/07/2008
You can help your family in many ways, some of which may be quite subtle. One way is to see that your family receives diabetes education. This gives them some understanding of how they can be of assistance.
More from Sandra Stammberger
Tracing Email Addresses: Why And How?
By: Sandra Stammberger | 24/05/2008 | Internet
Sometimes we get a lot of emails that come from unknown sources such as a person claiming to be someone who has an important position in a prestigious company or a government agency perhaps. So how do we really know from whom all of these emails come from?
There are ways...
Ways For An Effective Free People Search
By: Sandra Stammberger | 24/05/2008 | Internet
People search is a technique for you to find people that you are looking for perhaps long lost friends, family members, classmates or coworkers that you want to get in touch with again. With the help of search engines, you will be able to get hold of information associated with...
Watching Free TV Show Downloads On Your Computer
By: Sandra Stammberger | 23/05/2008 | Art and Entertainment
Missing an episode of your favorite show is something that nobody wants to experience. It's tough when you'll be watching the next episode after missing one, because you'll be wondering what happened during the last episode that lead to the events on the current episode. That's the bad thing about...
Water Powered Cars - How Can They Be Beneficial?
By: Sandra Stammberger | 23/05/2008 | Automotive
The world is actually faced with tremendous problems these days. To mention, we have the major worries in line with greenhouse gases, overpopulation, unemployment, global warming, and the escalating prices of gas and the basic commodities. What makes life hard is the rise in the cost of gasoline since it...
For A Safe Downloading Of Wii Games
By: Sandra Stammberger | 23/05/2008 | Computers
As a Wii fanatic, the best way to get a Wii game is to have it free of charge and a lot of web sites nowadays are giving out these Wii games free for downloading. However, downloading these games for free should be done with extra caution because just like...
The Worth Of Paying For Reverse Cell Phone Lookup Services
By: Sandra Stammberger | 23/05/2008 | Internet
Experiences by many people getting harassed by unwanted phone calls led to the creation of a reverse cell phone lookup. Due to the ever increasing number of these prank calls, many people have found a way to find details related to the cell phone number without having to actually call...
Finding PSP Game Demo Downloads And Trying It On Your PSP
By: Sandra Stammberger | 21/05/2008 | Computers
If you have a PSP, then you probably want to spend some time with different games because you don't want to keep playing just one game over and over till you practically know what's going to happen next. You'll want to go out and buy new games for your PSP,...
Where To Get Free iPod Music Downloads Fast And Easy
By: Sandra Stammberger | 21/05/2008 | Computers
If you own an iPod, chances are you've already scoured your music collection on your hard drive for every last song that you have and uploaded it on your music device. But the thing is, nobody wants to listen to the same songs every day, day in, day out.
Of course,...
Sports and Fitness 
