Pilates Yoga

Pilates is a popular method of exercise in the United States with more than 5 million people participated. What is Pilates, and if you do it? I answer these questions and more in this article.

What is the origin of Pilates?
It is true that the history of many old fitness activities is sometimes incomplete. Tai Chi, swimming, yoga, and even ran all those thousands of years ago, and although a number of documents that the exact origin is unknown. Pilates is different. The principle is clear. It was founded in 1920 by Joseph Pilates Fitness Trainer (1880-1967) for the purpose of rehabilitation. Some of the first people who were treated for soldiers returning from war to Pilates and dancers like Martha Graham and George Balanchine (the body strengthen and heal your aches and pains). Since 1920, the basic principles that have formed today, Joseph Pilates has survived, albeit with some modifications, Pilates remains true to its roots.

What is Pilates?
The Pilates method, as we know, is a system of exercises for flexibility, strength, body awareness and focus, without building bulk to improve. The method consists of a series of controlled movements fitness equipment made especially for spring-resistant (Chair Reformer, Cadillac, the Spine Corrector, Ladder Barrel and Wunda) or floor (loose body), and the sessions are supervised by trained instructors . Pilates is an exercise to increase strength, not aerobic (cardiovascular), but undoubtedly lead to a heart rate of untrained person. It is more about lifting weights, because it's running, cycling or other aerobic activities, so it should be noted that resistance training.

Two of the key elements of Pilates are core muscle strength* and spinal alignment. The core musculature is loosely defined as the spine, abdomen, pelvis, hips, and the muscles that support these structures. Some of the most important core muscles are the erector spinae muscle (located at the back along the spine), internal and external obliques (sides of the abdomen), transverse abdominal pain (which is to pull in the depths of your stomach, this muscle in your navel towards the spine), the rectus abdominis (the "Six-Pack") and hip flexors (in the pelvis and thigh).
During a Pilates session, either on machines or on the ground, the teacher will continually be asked, deeply concentrating on your core muscles and breathing, muscle contraction and the quality (not quantity) of your movements. These are also important elements of Pilates, and your instructor will focus on each session. The goal is the coordination of the mind, body and spirit, something Joseph Pilates called "Contrology. In his first book published in 1945, back from Pilates Contrology of life, of which 34 original Pilates exercises that are described together with students Contrology learn the guiding principles.