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DEL.ICIO.USADD PILATES TO YOUR EXERCISE PRESCRIPTION
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Many of us are guilty of not stretching adequately after warming up, between weight-training sets or at the end of a workout…. period. We simply don’t make or take the time to do this important yet oft overlooked task. As a proponent of cross training , I offer Pilates to you as an excellent addition to your palate of movement . Exchanging one day of your chosen exercise for Pilates, may offset some of the ill effects we cause ourselves with our lack of stretching at otherwise appropriate times.
FITNESS PILATES
Fitness Pilates is a method of exercise and physical movement designed primarily to stabilize the trunk (the ‘core’), producing more effective stretching, strengthening and balancing of the body. Through systematic practice of specific exercises coupled with focused breathing patterns, Pilates has proved itself invaluable as a fitness endeavor and an important adjunct to professional sports training and physical rehabilitation. Fitness Pilates can condition the body from head to toe with a no- to low-impact approach suitable for all ages and abilities. It requires patience, attention to detail with your body and consistent practice.
Behind each of the benefits (listed below) there are physiological and technical justifications, but success depends entirely on understanding the basic principles and practices of Pilates and doing it right.
BENEFITS OF PILATES
The kinds of results you can expect from an accurate, educated, well designed program include:
●Enhancing mobility, agility and stamina;
●Improving strength, flexibility and balance;
●Toning and building long, lean muscles without bulk;
●Challenging deep abdominal muscles to support the core;
●Engaging the mind and enhancing body awareness;
●Reducing stress, relieving tension and boosting energy through deep stretching;
●Restoring postural alignment;
●Creating a stronger, more flexible spine;
●Promoting recovery from strain or injury;
●Increasing joint range of motion;
●Improving circulation;
●Improving the way your body looks and feels.
There are some great studios in Atlanta. If you haven’t tried Pilates yet…what are you waiting for.
Comments
By Barry
August 16, 2006 08:34 AM | Link to this
I have added the plank and superman moves to my ab workout. I may add some others as time goes on.
I think I may be doing the plank move wrong, though. I’m feeling a lot of strain on my lower back as I try to stay straight while on my elbows. Is this normal?
By Droppy
August 16, 2006 09:29 AM | Link to this
I love Pilates, I do a full routine every day. They aid in making me more flexible and better endurance.
By Lisa
August 16, 2006 10:11 AM | Link to this
I love Pilates as well. It has really decrease my stress level. I am able sleep better at night. With adding Pilates into my exercise regimen 4 times a week, I have lost pounds and I am looking leaner.
By Shirley O'Born
August 16, 2006 12:20 PM | Link to this
I am a young 74 yr. old.Have always been very active;PE teacher,ranked tennis player,college cheerleader,former runner B 4 knee replacement,etc—Since moving to Ga 4yrs ago all I do is walk my dogs. Have gotten fat & flabby. Do I need Pilates or Yoga? or can you not advise? HELP!!! PS-what does HTML mean?
By phatz
August 16, 2006 01:57 PM | Link to this
whatever…
Pilates is a fad. In 10 years we will look back and roll our eyes.
Then, 15 years later, some actress or music artist will proclaim it’s benefits and it will come back in vogue.
Excerise is very basic and trainers and “experts” make it far too complicated. There is no “magic bullet”. You want results, …I mean REALLY want results - do the following and I guarantee you results:
Step 1)Exercise: Three days-a-week, do three sets of push-ups, three sets of pull-ups and three sets of dips. Do as many reps as you can for each set. If you can only do one pull-up, then only do one, but like hell for a second. I PROMISE that each week you will gain at least one rep per exercise but many times much more… (and especially if you follow all steps correctly)
Step 2) Eating: Stop eating white bread, white pasta, white potatoes and instead replace all of these with whole-grain versions. Eat lean meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, skim or soy milk, cheese and lots nuts, beans and whole-grain rice.
STAY AWAY FROM: Soda, boxed cookies, cakes and all the various sugar-rush items. …Think like this - “if it’s processed, skip it and replace with something that ism more fresh and natural.”
Step 3) Cardio: Run or walk for at least twenty minutes a day. As your life permits and/or as your cardio health improves, add more time.
That’s it. You can’t eat crap and think exercise will compensate. You can’t eat well and think that because your lean - your healthy. there is no magic bullet We have become so lame as Americans.
Clean yourself up. Look in the mirror and admit you need a change. That’s half the battle - then, simply change your life.
It’s that easy.
By Stephanie
August 16, 2006 02:34 PM | Link to this
I have been an athlete since childhood and work out almost every day. I get bored running and doing cardio, lifting weights, so I added Pilates twice a week to my workout to liven things up. It’s been an amazing addition. Pilates focuses on your core - muscles from sternum to hip bone. I found stomach muscles that I never realized I had! My lower back pain is now gone. It’s helped my balance and forced my to stretch. It has several difficulty levels so if you have a knack for it you can move up quickly. It does not replace cardio but help can get your heart level up and it has replaced lifting weights in my regime. If you only do mat Pilates its a great workout, but if you add the Pilates machines, you will really rev up the full-body workout.
To Barry - it sounds like you are letting your stomach droop too much. You have to tuck your belly up to the ceiling and really work to keep your butt level. Try it while watching your body level in a mirror.
To Shirley - I’d recommend trying both yoga and pilates and seeing which one you like. Both are a great addition to walking, but I think Pilates will ultimately be a bigger fat burner than yoga (which focuses more on relaxation - depending on the type of yoga you try). Try a beginners pilates class. If you want a fat-burning yoga, try a place that offers power yoga.
By LMAO
August 16, 2006 04:25 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the free step-by-step Phatz. You just saved me about 600 bucks! I’m 5’1 about 108, but like you said, it doesn’t mean you’re healthy. You broke it down, unlike the “experts ” do. TAB!
By Joe The Pro
August 18, 2006 01:39 PM | Link to this
Pilates is a fad? Pilates has been around for 85 years. No Pilates is a revolution that is turning the sports and fitness world inside out. The best athletes in the world (Professional and Olympic) sing unsolicited praise for the results they get and it is great for seniors when it is regressed.
Pilates is not a fad in 10 years all exercise will be based on Pilates and the Principles it was founded on.
By the way the Push-Up is one of the 35 exercises Joseph H. Pilates chose to incorporate into his original work.
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By What the he%@?
August 28, 2006 03:27 PM | Link to this
Any way to get rid of all these cockroach spammers? I agree with 3-step Joe. I would possibly argue for adding squats and/or lunges for more core power, but pullups, dips and pushups are all great and easy to accomplish around the house—just have to find a bar to hang from (don’t try the shower curtain rod, no matter how sturdy it looks, LOL).