Viewing Pilates Videos - Obtain Benefits Galore

Pilates was originally invented by a German national called Joseph Pilates. During World War I, Joseph Pilates was sent to a detention centre and interned for the crime of being an 'alien enemy'. It was during his forced imprisonment that he was motivated to create a series of exercises that were low in intensity and resistance. The inspiration for his first piece of Pilates equipment came from the springs used in hospital beds. After the war he immigrated to America and continued to promote his unique exercise techniques by opening an established where the Pilates methods were taught and practised. The popularity of Pilates gradually increased and so came the onset of the video age and enabled many devotees to practise the Pilates techniques from following a video dedicated to this type of exercise.

Like many other exercise videos those dedicated to Pilates enjoyed a great deal of success. The reason behind this is that one could use their Pilates video to practises their exercises everywhere as long as they had access to a video player. For those who feel the need to exercise but dislike the inconvenience of going to a gym, the idea of being able to practise Pilates at home was and still is, very appealing

However convenient this method of exercising is, there is a major drawback, and that is the absence of a professional instructor. The the Pilates method is quite well demonstrated on the video or DVD by your virtual tutor it can never fully replace the presence of a fully trained Pilates teacher being on hand. Pilates can be somewhat complicated to the uninitiated and if you perform a movement incorrectly it is possible to sustain an injury. This is why it is advisable to be taught by an instructor is trained to ensure that the techniques of Pilates are carried out in the safest possible way.

Before embarking on any form of exercise, particularly Pilates, it is always advisable to take instruction from a qualified professional who will acquaint you with the basic movements before you attempt to any of the groups of exercises on your own.

One extremely effective type of Pilates that boasts fast results is Winsor Pilates. This method has some variations to the original Pilates method and was created by Mari Winsor. By practising Winsor Pilates three times a week it is claimed that positve effects will be noticeable after two weeks.

Winsor Pilates videos can be used for the practise of this method outside a gym and anywhere suitable for the user. Like other Pilates videos it has the advantage of being of benefit for those who wish to practise these techniques at home. Finding time to exercise is not easy whether at home or in a gym. However, from the many testimonials, one person who used a Winsor Pilates video at irregular intervals over a two year period, claims that his abdominals, pelvis and lower back muscles, the core muscles, were actually stronger, though he did not notice any reduction in weight. So it is possible to maintain a healthy core by exercising with Winsor Pilates even if not the prescribed three times a week!

One other advantage to exercising with a Pilates video is that you can become very familiar with the positions, methods, and sequences of exercises that the video almost becomes redundant. And apart from all the other benefits of the Pilates video, there is the fact that it is an economical way to exercise. Regular subscriptions to a gym or studio can be costly and there are often added costs. With a Pilates video you don't require anything else except yourself to achieve your goals.

There are limitations, though, from using a Pilates video, and that is because they are usually geared to low impact and intensity exercises. If you prefer something that will really challenge you then this type of exercise is not suitable for you in the long term.