Pilates: Some Things You May Not Know

Pilates has become a sensation in the fitness world due to its ability to increase flexibility, muscle tone, and overall level of health. It is often recommended for those who want to strengthen their muscles and have a firm core, but don’t want to look as though they spend all day and night in the gym. There are several similarities between the exercises in a typical program and those found in yoga. The two are close cousins and many people like to combine moves from each to round out their workouts. Here are some things about Pilates that may surprise you.

The exercise system is named after Joseph Pilates, which many people interested in the system already know. What may surprise you is that he was actually very frail as a child and had difficulties doing even average physical activities. Much of his impetus behind designing the system was to help himself and others overcome natural strength and flexibility shortcomings. Though his teachings, millions of people have improved their lives through fitness and exercise. Some of his celebrity devotees include Madonna, Carrie Anne Moss, Courtney Cox, and others.

Though Pilates are today practiced by people in all walks of life, each of them for their own personal reasons, this wasn’t always the case. In fact, the original exercise system was not designed to be used by the general public, but was in fact specifically for injured soldiers in England. The exercises were intended to help them recover more quickly and reduce the pain they were going through while in the hospital. It wasn’t long before the exercises caught on outside of this limited sphere.

The exercise system is perfect for pregnant women, who often find themselves having to abstain from other forms of activity as they reach their latter months. Because the system is built to be low-impact and is not taxing on the cardiovascular system, women can use the gentlest of the stretches and strengthening exercises to stay in shape and make losing weight after having the baby that much easier.

One of the great things about Pilates is how easily it can equalize the fitness level between an older person and a younger one. Through the exercises, it is entirely possible for a man of 70 to be in better shape than one in his 30s or even younger. The effects of the program cannot be overstated, and it is perfect for those with a high level of fitness all the way down to those who have never worked out a day in their lives.