10 Reasons for Practicing Pilates


Pilates is now the exercise of choice with many people on account of the many benefits to be gained. Below are the top 10 benefits you can expect from your regular practice, in no particular order!

(1) Re-educate and realign your body to prevent imbalances.

This is particularly useful for sportsmen, for example. Think of a tennis player constantly hitting the ball using the same arm or a golfer always swinging from the same side.

(2) Make you more body-aware and coordinated.

Pilates improves your proprioception skills, the way your body moves in space. Particularly useful if you are working by yourself.

(3) Create or improve space between vertebrae to minimiZe pressure on discs and nerves.

There is no question that Pilates will prevent back problems or teach you to manage them.

(4) Improve core muscle and back strength to help support the spine and maintain good posture.

Many of us have posture that is far from ideal.

(5) Strengthen all muscles so that the whole body can work together rather than one area becoming overloaded.

(6) Improve flexibility and mobility so that the body can move freely, without putting undue strain on the back.

(7) Teach you to breathE correctly and fully so that plenty of oxygen reaches every part of the body, especially the spine.

Try observing the way in which you breathe normally and you will see how inefficient it is.

(8) Give you that feel-good factor and relax your body and mind.

Pilates is a form or meditation, allowing you to forget all your troubles and draw your focus of attention to your body - at least for a little while.

(9) Improve pelvic floor tone, reducing incontinence problems.

A huge problem and not just for women!

(10) Flatten abdomen.

There is no other exercise that flattens the lower abdomen - believe me, I've tried it all.

Written by Josie McKenlay.
About the Author: Josie owns www.vitalflow.com, providing online Pilates videos and advice on healthy living. As well as running the website, Josie has a large portfolio of private clients and also teaches Pilates and yoga classes, drawing on her 25+ years in the fitness business.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - 10 Reasons for Practicing Pilates

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My mom lived to be over 95-years-old. Did she exercise everyday? Not really. Although we did live in a fifth-floor walk-up apartment, so some days she did get a workout on the stairs. Did she live a healthy lifestyle? No. We put chicken fat on our bread, had meat at least five times a week and ate mostly canned, not fresh, vegetables. In addition, my Mom smoked two packs of cigarettes a day. Did she have a great sense of humor? Yes. And I’m convinced it kept her going all those years. For example, Every time she went to the doctor, she hired a van service to take her there and back. One late afternoon, when she was in the doctor’s office, her ride didn't show up to take her home. Since the doctor had to close the office, the receptionist suggested that my Mom wait for the van in the pizza parlor downstairs. After waiting a long time, the van still didn't show up. So my Mom went up to the guy behind the counter and asked, "Do you deliver?" The man replied, "Of course, lady, we’re a pizza place!" "Great," my Mom said, "I’d like a pepperoni pizza and I’d like to go with it."
PS- Mom is gone but her humor lives on. She inspired me teach others about the therapeutic value of humor in both my books and my keynote speeches.

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