How to Do Pilates on Your Own?

Although Pilates has been around for more than 90 years, it has only become extremely popular over the last decade. The main reason is the result it yields. And Pilates had been recommended by doctors as a tool in recovery after an injury or the treatment of chronic low back pain.Many people are raving about the healing benefits, as well as the overall good health they have attained from their program. A drawback has been the expense of having to take one on one session or join group sessions to continuously achieve these benefits. With Pilates DIY program, it is possible to continue on your own and achieve the same fantastic results.DIY simply means 'do-it-yourself.' While the reformer can be expensive to purchase, and bulky to keep in your home, you can do a mixed combination; mat exercises can be done at home, while Pilates reformer exercises can be done in the studio, or gym. However, there are some important things to keep in mind, when you embark on your own program.In order to get the most out of your program, here are some key notes you need to be aware of before getting started.Right Pilates DIY Program DesignWork with a professional Pilates instructor who is familiar with your health issues and has a good know how and the experience in planning a program suitable for you. This program needs to take into consideration your health history, your present state of fitness and the goals to achieve. If the goals are not realistic, an alternative should be recommended.Build Your Pilates FoundationIn taking over the responsibility of working out on your own, learn to understand the "why's" and the "how's" of doing the routines correctly so that you know you are not injuring yourself. Learn the fundamentals of the Pilates form in a proper Pilates studio so you can ask questions if in doubt. Learn Pilates fundamentals like breathing, control, precision, balance and more the proper way.What's more? You know you are working with the professionals. This is to ensure you are being taught the latest techniques and forms. Don't learn outdated stuff or dangerous routines from unreliable sources.Develop Mind ConnectionPilates is always associated with building core strength. But there is more to it than just core. It is not about completing a set of routines or perspiring buckets of sweat. Pilates is deep work. So deep that it takes time to understand what body mind connection means. It takes patience and long hours of practice to get to the point where your body is able to do what the mind commands without much effort and with much ease. When the body cannot perform a simple task what the mind wants, there is no connection. Just lots of resistance and stiffness, and ultimately frustration!ConclusionIt is important to take into account the length of time you have been practising Pilates before embarking on a D.I.Y Pilates program. A good gauge would be about 6 months of consistent training with a trained Pilates instructor. It gives you the confidence of knowing you have the ability to get on the mat or on the reformer without worrying about all the "what ifs".You can also rest assured your program is designed with you in mind, specific to your goals so that you see yourself getting fitter and stronger, closer to your goals. It is vital to set goals to avoid a plateau in training where you stopped seeing progress. Hence, the reason why your program has to change continuously, like every 3 months if you are consistent.Pilates DIY exercises can be done for as long as you are persistent and determined to set a schedule and stay on it. You can do it anywhere, even when you travel. So as long as you are disciplined and enjoyed seeing a great "yourself" always, it is one of the best investment you can put in yourself!