|
 |
|
|
|
| It is easy for many to confuse yoga and pilates, but the two are completely different styles of exercising and are even meant to achieve different goals. While yoga focuses more on the stress relief and meditation aspects, pilates focuses on weight loss benefits, as well as gaining strength and flexibility. Some fitness centers have actually begun combining the two different exercise styles in an effort to accomplish relaxation and meditation as well as strength, flexibility and weight loss. |
|
Pilates Is An Excellent Low-Impact, Weight Loss ProgramPilates is named after Joseph Pilate, a German fitness innovator, who developed the system in the 1920s, as a combination of his experiences with yoga, martial arts, and gymnastics. He actually brought this style of working out to the United States after the first World War, but it was mainly popular with dancers until the late 1990s.
At this time, Mari Winsor took hold of the Pilates program and began making a series of pilates videos and books to introduce the exercise program to the mainstream. From here, the system became popular as a style of working out among the famous and soon grew to fitness centers all over the country.
If you are interested in a strictly pilates class, you will be looking at a class that uses resistance bands and blocks to aid you through the stretching workout as well as floor exercises that place little to no impact on joints. This type of workout can be excellent for those with injuries to joints, although it does require a bit of strain on the back, so those with severe back injuries may want to avoid this style of working out.
Most instructors consider pilates to be a low-impact stretching and flexibility workout that can actually be beneficial to reducing pain and soreness in some areas. Keep in mind, though, that not all classes are created equal and some instructors have actually begun picking up the pace of their pilates classes to include more rigorous stretching and flexibility exercises. Before you get started, it is important to check the level of experience required to attend a class.
Because it only requires a pilates mat and possibly a few resistance bands or blocks, you can actually accomplish a great workout right in your home with a pilates video. Winsor Pilates is still one of the most popular videos available, although a variety of different instructors now offer their own videos as well.
If you are interested in a more intense workout, you should probably stick with a studio that offers Pilates equipment. These are actual machines, similar to a home gym system, that allows for optimal stretching and flexibility. This Pilates equipment usually works as a strength training method that will not add bulk to your muscles, but will only work to tone and condition them.
For those interested in Pilates as a weight loss program, it is extremely beneficial because it works as a strength training program. Since adding muscle can increase your metabolism and your heart rate, it can allow for increased weight loss if performed on a regular basis, usually 3-4 times a week for a one hour class. There are also more rigorous, condensed versions that will allow for a full workout to be done in 20-40 minutes.
|
|
