Pilates Exercises

Something that has become very popular in recent years is pilates exercises. Many people have discovered this type of exercise and have taken it up as a part of their exercise routine. But there are a lot of other people that are unfamiliar with pilates exercises and they want to know more about them before they decide to try them personally.

There are six basic principals which are applied to pilates exercises and these principals are the ones that help people who are doing pilates exercises and trying to have a healthier lifestyle.

  • Centering – The first principal of Pilates is centering. This means that the person who is doing the Pilates exercises should bring their focus to their body’s center, which is located between public bone and lower ribs. Most of the Pilates exercises, including armchair exercises pilates, are sourced right from this central point.

  • Concentration – The second principal of Pilates is concentration. When the person who is performing the exercises gives their undivided attention to their exercise and performs it with their full commitment, they are going to discover that they are achieving the exercise’s maximum value.

  • Control – The third principal is control. Every exercise which is done in Pilates is done with total control of their muscles. None of the person’s body parts are excluded.

  • Precision – Another important principal in Pilates is awareness and precision. This is sustained through each and every movement which is done when you are performing an exercise. In order to get the maximum benefit for the exercise, you have to make sure that the exercise is done correctly, that the placement is right, the alignment is right, and the trajectory is exactly correct for all parts of your body.

  • Breath – The fifth principal of Pilates is breathing. When doing the Pilates exercises, it’s very important to use full breaths. You should think of your lungs and bellows and use them to pump air in and then out of your body. Most of the Pilates exercises are coordinated with breathing and it’s important that the breaths are used as a part of each of the exercise.

  • Flow – The final principal of exercises in Pilates is flow. Grace, ease, and fluidity are all goals which are applied to the exercises in Pilates. An exercise’s energy connects all of the parts of the body and then flows evenly though a person’s body. Pieces of equipment used in Pilates, such as the reformer, are excellent mirrors of a person’s concentration and flow since they usually bang around as well as becoming machine-like when the person using it loses their flow and control.

Although a lot of people think of Pilates exercises as being done with an expensive machine, there are plenty of exercises done in Pilates that can be with a simple mat. Here are some of the most popular exercises done with a mat in Pilates.

  • Hundred – This exercise builds coordination, stamina, and core strength. When doing the hundred, your abdominal muscles are fully engaged.

  • Roll Up – This is a really great challenge for a person’s abdominal muscles as well as being a really great spine articulation. One of the things that is said about this exercise is that it’s equal to about six of the normal sit ups, as well as being a better exercise for flat stomachs than crunches.

  • Roll Over - This is an exercise that Mr. Pilates saw as using to stimulate your spine. It involves lots of articulation of the spine, and that’s controlled by use of abdominal muscles.

  • One Leg Circle – This exercises challenges the stability of the person’s core, because the person doing the exercise has to keep their body and hips completely still as they circle the one leg by itself.

  • Roll Like a Ball – This is the first one of the exercises and it stimulates your spine and works the abdominals deeply, as well as tuning the person to their body’s inner flow of breath and movement.

  • Stretch, Single Leg – This exercise is often hailed as one of the exercises that is good for targeting lower abdominals. It also works your whole core, requiring both stamina and strength as you maintain a curve in your upper body and keep your torso stable while you switch the positions of your arms and legs.

  • Stretch, Double Leg – For those who want to have more endurance and strength in their abdominal muscles, a double leg stretch is a good idea. It’s a graphic way for the exerciser to experience working from their body’s center as their legs and arms reach away before returning together.

  • Spine Stretch – This is an exercise that feels amazing. Even though it’s an exercise with your abdominal muscles lifted, the exercise’s emphasis has been changed to the person’s spine stretching. This kind of exercise can also be used for hamstring stretching along with allowing the person to center their body before they move on to exercises which are more challenging.

  • Open Legged Rocker – This is an exercise for abdominal control which is nice and deep. The rolling for this exercise must come from the depths of the core and not momentum. You should not throw your head back or jerk yourself by pulling on your legs.

As you can see, using Pilates is a great way that you can get yourself into shape and really work your abdominal muscles. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on expensive machines or anything like that. All you need is a good mat and a floor, and you will find that you are making a big difference in your body and the way that you look.