The Answers to All Your Questions about a Pilates Class

Thanks to the steadily growing health-consciousness of most individuals today, new diet plans and fitness techniques are sprouting like mushrooms and Hollywood pregnancies. Only a few, however, can rival the level of success and popularity that Pilates is presently enjoying.

What Do You Do in a Pilates Class?

That’s always the first question people have about Pilates. Well, Pilates is like a combination of yoga, calisthenics and stretching.

The name is actually an acronym for Proximal Integrating Latent Agile Toning Exercise. It’s obviously a mouthful and that’s why we make things easy by simply calling it Pilates. You pronounce it like puh-lah-teez, by the way.

What Benefits Can Be Derived from Joining a Class?

The all-important question that deals with sexier and better images of your future self; the good news about Pilates is that it can benefit you in MANY ways.

• Adequacy as an exercise for pregnant women
• Enhancement of your body’ s alignment
• Incorporation of exercise that will make your body stronger and more flexible
• Increased energy levels
• Increased feelings of well-being
• Increased strength in your abs, back and stabilizer muscles
• Rehabilitation of old injuries
• Weight Loss

What are the Common Types of Exercises Performed in Class?

Take a glimpse of the exercises being done in a typical with the following example.

The Ballerina Arms

• Sit cross-legged or adopting an Indian position.
• Straighten your spine; do it the way the Marine Corps do it.
• Bend your elbows at a 90 degree angle.
• Take your arms back – but don’t push it to the limit or hyper-extending it as that’s unnecessarily risky – until your shoulder blades connect.
• Put your arms down until your shoulder blades slide down your spine.
• Raise your bent arms above your head the way ballerinas do so.
• Finish the exercise by placing your arms back in its original position.
• Repeat these steps three times a day and enjoy seeing the positive results in just one week.

How Long Has Pilates Been Around?

Surprise, surprise, the art of Pilates has actually existed for almost a hundred years already. Its inventor, Joseph H. Pilates, was a German born in 1880 and worked as a hospital intern in the First World War. Having noted how injured soldiers weren’t able to properly exercise their bodies, Joseph created a machine that was designed in such a way it could help soldiers regain their old strength and rehabilitate their injuries.

In 1926, Joseph moved to New York and his system of exercise was successful there as well. The rest, as they say, was history.

How Do I Choose the Best Class for Me?

Budget – If you’re on a limited budget, you’ll be able to save more by simply opting to join a group class. Such a setting however would require you to learn at the average pace of the group and that would be a bit troublesome if you tend to learn faster or slower than others.

Privacy – If you’ve got extra money to spend, enlisting the services of a Pilates instructor for private lessons would certainly help you work out more effectively. It can also afford you some privacy as well if you have trouble stretching and flexing in front of other people.

Special Programs – There are certain studios or gyms that offer customized Pilates programs for certain types of people like golfers or swimmers. Make sure to inquire about that if you’re particularly active in any sport as well.

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