Joseph Pilates, the creator of what is today known simply as the Pilates Method, engineered several ingenious pieces of equipment to enhance his clients' workouts. While some apparatus are very large and relatively immobile, such as the...
Joseph Pilates studied yoga, martial arts and several other forms of exercise prior to developing his contrology method, now referred to simply as Pilates, according to master Pilates teacher Romana Kryzanowska. Try these exercises from the...
If you've ever done sit-ups on a bare floor, you probably felt more in your spine and tailbone than in your abs. While floor-based exercises are convenient and easy to do anywhere, ergonomic exercise mats can make on-the-go workouts comfortable...
Pilates is a system of exercises developed in the 1920s by Joseph H. Pilates. Originally called Contrology, Pilates as a fitness method still maintains the basic principals and goals put forth by Joe Pilates so many years ago. As an exercise...
The Fitball is a brand of exercise ball, also called a Swiss ball or stability ball. Sometimes, when used for Pilates, it is simply referred to as a Pilates ball. One of the benefits of Pilates exercises is that they focus on increasing core...
Joseph Pilates created the Pilates method of exercise. He grew up in Germany in the early 20th century, and developed his technique as a means of overcoming his childhood physical disabilities. Pilates came to America in the 1920s, opened a...
Pilates exercises can be performed on an exercise mat, but there are also hundreds of exercises that are done on specially-designed equipment. Authentic Pilates equipment offers designs that copy or comply to the original designs of Joseph...
In Pilates, an exercise for your glutes will work the muscles of your stomach simply because the Pilates method requires you to engage your core to perform each exercise correctly. If you're looking to tighten your belly through Pilates, use these...
Winsor Pilates, the brainchild of Pilates guru Mari Winsor, is often seen on late-night infomercials claiming to change your body. Unfortunately, some of the results may be exaggerated, so you become frustrated when you don't gain a dancer-sleek...
The best way to prevent Pilates-related injuries is to learn the basic exercises from a qualified instructor so that you might learn the perfect posture. Whether a beginner or master of Pilates, you must learn to center your body, holding the...
Pilates exercises are known for strengthening and stretching many muscles in your body during a single exercise. Because of this principal, it would be difficult to find an exercise that works only the upper abdominals or even just the abdominal...
The Pilates rollover is an intermediate-level mat exercise. Begin by lying flat on your back with your arms beside you and your legs up straight in the air. Without momentum, squeeze your buttocks and inhale as you lift your legs off the mat and...
With exercise, you generally get out of it what you put into it. The trick is making sure that you are doing the right type of workout that will help you reach your fitness goals. For example, if strength training is your thing, then performing...
There are many benefits to doing Pilates workouts. It is important to take your time to work up to the advanced movements, and to listen to your body during each movement. The Pilates scissors will help to stretch the hamstrings and strengthen the...
Pilates rings are also called Pilates Power Rings or Pilates Magic Circles. They're about the size of a steering wheel and are helpful for toning muscles in your upper and lower body by offering resistance when you squeeze them, or simply by...
The stability ball was not part of the original series of Pilates apparatus, but some instructors argue that if Joseph Pilates was alive today, he would incorporate the ball into his program. The ball imposes a balance challenge, which requires...
Pilates -- the Joseph Pilates-created method of exercising with slow and precise movements -- can help you strengthen muscle using very little weight. A typical Pilates class will have no more than a mat, a ball and some straps for equipment, with...
Diet, exercise, plastic surgery and hair dye. It seems you can change almost anything you want about yourself these days. One thing that's not so easy to change is your height. Most people would like to be a bit taller and a few inches closer to...
Many of the lifestyle-related habits you adopt have an influence on your longevity and quality of life. Fitness and exercise are commonly accepted as a general way in which you can maintain your health as you age. The theory that calorie...
Plenty of Pilates workout videos are available these days. Some Pilates aficionados argue that the only real Pilates workout is the original exercise program designed by Joseph Pilates himself. However, Pilates has become such a popular form of...
RSD is an acronym for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, a progressive neurological disorder characterized by widespread pain, swelling and a burning sensation in the skin, muscles and connective tissue. RSD typically occurs after a broken bone or...
The chest region tends to be among the main area where extra body weight occurs, mostly in women, but men are affected as well. Because this muscle tissue comprises mainly body fat, this is among the initial areas where extra body weight may be...
Total Gym is a cable and pulley-based exercise system designed for the home fitness and the group exercise market. This equipment facilitates exercises for all parts of the body. Many of the Total Gym exercises work the body as a total unit,...
A Pilates machine can help you maintain proper form, reach muscles that would be difficult for a beginner to isolate without injury and add novelty to your workout. However, you do not need equipment to do Pilates. If space and expense are...
For people new to working out, walking into a gym can be intimidating. A popular effective alternative is the use of home workout videos. With the advent of low-price, widely available video recording equipment. home workout videos have...
Successful weight loss comes in the form of an overall lifestyle change, including exercise and nutritional habits. MayoClinic.com explains that balancing intake of calories with exertion of energy often makes the difference in losing weight. As a...
Over the past decade Pilates has grown as an alternative for those seeking physical activity. Pilates falls into the mindful movement category of exercise, which offers different advantages than a traditional gym workout. While any form of...
