{"id":250,"date":"2023-07-10T17:43:58","date_gmt":"2023-07-10T17:43:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mountdorafit.com\/?p=250"},"modified":"2023-07-10T21:03:12","modified_gmt":"2023-07-10T21:03:12","slug":"what-pilates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mountdorafit.com\/what-pilates\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Pilates?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Pilates is taking the world by storm as more and more individuals are learning about the multitude of benefits it can bring. Read on to find out out what Pilates is, who can do Pilates, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

July 10th 2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"pilates\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pilates is taking the world by storm as more and more individuals are learning about the multitude of benefits it can bring. Contrary to popular belief, Pilates is not just a basic aerobic exercise, but rather a full body experience that helps to improve your overall well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creator of Pilates, Joseph Pilates, referred to his early methods as Contrology. His idea was to encourage awareness of muscle movement and breathing with a heavy focus on the postural muscles that provide balance and support the spine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Pilates?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pilates<\/a>\u00a0is\u00a0a collection of about 500 exercises<\/strong>\u00a0based off of ideas from the exercises and movements incorporated in yoga, ballet, and gymnastics. It lengthens and stretches all of the major muscle groups in the body and can improve strength, flexibility, body awareness, and balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joseph Pilates introduced Pilates to America in the early 1920s when he and his wife opened up a studio as physical therapists to help injured athletes and dancers. His goal was to heal them through the use of his exercises so they could return to work. Since then, Pilates has been embraced and adapted to be available to almost anyone interested in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pilates can be either an aerobic or non-aerobic form of exercise<\/strong> depending on your physical needs or interests. Since it requires you to move your body through precise and exact ranges of motion, concentration and focus are key. Each different Pilates exercise has a specific rhythm, physical placement, and breathing pattern, and requires concentration to find the center point through which to control your body\u2019s movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Pilates, you don\u2019t work your muscles to exhaustion like lifting weights at the gym, so there is no sweating, straining, or discomfort<\/strong> \u2013 just intense concentration. The workout usually consists of a variety of exercise sessions that are performed in low repetitions, around five to ten times over a period of 45 to 90 minutes. Mat work and specialized equipment based off of resistance and gravity may be utilized by your Pilates instructor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who Can Do Pilates?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Anyone and everyone<\/strong> who can utilize the equipment and is physically able to perform the movements can do Pilates. As long as you are not restricted due to an injury or illness by your doctor, you are most likely in the clear. Pilates is suitable for all ages<\/strong> thanks to its slow and graceful movements. There are even movements that have been developed for each trimester of pregnancy for pregnant women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to frequently small class sizes, more individual attention can be given to each participant, which is why Pilates is suitable for those at any fitness level. Since the Pilates method is taught to suit each individual, exercises are regularly re-evaluated to ensure they are the best option for each person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Health Benefits of Pilates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The health benefits of Pilates include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n