If you are a big fan of yoga, you may just as well be a big fan of pilates. Pilates is very similar to yoga, using graceful movements and poses to work core muscle groups in your body. I first heard of pilates when I was a freshman in college almost eight years ago when I was taking a public speaking class. The topic for one of our speech assignments was to give a speech in which we demonstrate how to do something. For this one girl's speech, she brought in this pilates video, yoga mat and a medicine ball and demonstrated a few basic exercises to the class on how pilates was done. I remember thinking that it seemed so simplistic...that is, until I tried it and found out otherwise. Pilates is actually very challenging! It is challenging to remain totally focused and calm while your inflexible body (my body is extremely inflexible) tries to flex and hold these difficult poses. Pilates is beneficial for a number of reasons. It improves your posture, strengthens your spine and tones your abs by focusing on your core. What's even better is that it doesn't require any major equipment; all you need is a mat or fluffy towel and maybe a medicine ball (optional).
Today we are so busy running around in a chaotic world, rushed to work, rushed in traffic...in fact it seems that all we ever do is rush around in this hectic rat race we have created around us. But, as a lot of health conscious people are starting to realize, sometimes we need to stop and slow down. Pilates is a great fitness program that no only helps us to improve and tone our physical well being, but gives that desperately needed time of slowing down and creates a fitness routine for the mind as well as the body.
Pilates has been around for decades and focuses on a fusion between mind and body to create more balance, grace and strength. With a focus on precise, flowing movements and breath, Pilates, in some ways, has a methodology similar to yoga; however it is extremely simple for anyone to do and delivers amazing results. The smooth, slow, and steady movements of the pilates routine serves to calm your mind and as your muscles become stretched and toned it eases away signs of stress which, of course, leads to more positive emotional health.
Of course, Pilates does not only help to strengthen and calm your mind. This fitness system will give you major results for strengthening your spine, improving posture, and toning your abs. And by focusing on giving you a stronger core and lengthening and conditioning your muscles your over all health benefits this simple fitness work out that virtually anyone can do regardless of their fitness level or time constraints. It is easy to begin and gives you great results. So take a few minutes out of that chaotic life and see how much better you feel with a total fitness program for both your mind and your body.
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