Shape Up With the Pilates Exercise Machine

Pilates has become increasingly popular of late. What is Pilates and what does it do and what is the Pilates exercise machine?

Joseph H. Pilates from Germany is the founder of the Pilates exercise method. Joseph was a weakly child growing up with medical ailments and forced himself to take on different sports to grow stronger and strengthen his body and apparently it worked since became an accomplished athlete later on. During World War I, Joseph served as a nurse and developed methods of exercise and equipment for patients and soldiers that were immobilized. Included in those developments were several mat exercises focused on strengthening the torso area of the body based on global body strengthening activities like the Chinese martial arts or formats from yoga.

Pilates is routine that conditions the body in order to build flexibility, strength, coordination and endurance without increasing muscle size. Pilates has also been shown to sculpt the body, increase circulation and strengthens the torso. Those that perform Pilates on a regularly a basis, feel that they experience a better general well-being, are less prone to injury and have better posture over those that do not.

There are two main ways to accomplish Pilates exercises. One is done with floor exercise mats and another is with machine equipment. In the Pilates exercise for building up the spine for back health or better posture, a machine was invented to assist in the exercise and was called the Pilates Exercise Machine and uses the principle of resistance. It was created to meet the requirements of several different exercise movements and performances and is durable, versatile and convenient. The ability to use many features on the machine to create exercises specific for each individual makes the Pilates Exercise Machine a joy to use and preferred over other traditional exercise equipment.

There are five types of Pilates exercise equipment. They are the Pilates Reformer, the Pilates Resistance Bands or Pedipull, the Pilates Cadillac, the Pilates Barrel and the Pilates Chair. The most known of these would be the Pilates Reformer. It can perform more than one hundred Pilates exercises with its pulleys, straps, system of springs and gliding platform. The exerciser pulls and pushes off the foot bar to move in a controlled method back and forth while the tension from the springs applies resistance. Next is the Pilates Resistance Bands, used most commonly for rehabilitation or with other fitness disciplines. It is made of a strip of latex that will stretch to give a light resistance. A surprising simple tool, can help in several areas such as working the abdominals, enhancing joint movement, sculpting of the body and more. The original concept by Joseph H. Pilates is the Pilates Cadillac or nicknamed, "the rack" or the "Trapeze Table" due to its appearance. It has been considered by many to be the most effective and versatile exercise equipment pieces ever designed. It bridges a connection between exercise and physical therapy through its table that is surrounded by bars, straps, levers and springs, all adjustable to make the activity as precise as possible. A trainer is recommended with this version to get the best results accurately, on the over eighty exercises that can be done with this system. The Pilates Barrel is meant to compliment a mat workout. It is an upholstered arch that supports the back and shoulders while opening up the neck, thighs and hips depending on the exercise performed. This has also been a great tool in use with rehabilitation purposes. Last is the Pilates Chair. Springs are the resistance to work with on this equipment and allows a person to perform over seventy-five exercises using it in order to work the lower back, shoulders, abdominals, lower back and more. Other versions of this equipment are the Stability Chair or the Pilates Wunda Chair.