What Pilates Classes Best Fits Your Lifestyle

When it comes to Pilates classes choosing the right one is crucial to your enjoyment of the activity as well as the benefits you will derive from a daily or weekly workout. There are several kinds of Pilates classes from which you can choose. However, before deciding on the right one for you it is important to determine just what it is you want to get out of your class.

Pilates is one of the best forms of exercise for overall conditioning, toning and relaxation. Based on a combination of yoga, mediation, martial arts and other fitness disciplines this form of workout pioneered by Joseph Pilates in the 1920’s was quickly adopted by superior ballet schools and Olympic level athletes as their workout of choice.

If you are a social person then choosing a Pilates class is a very good idea. Not only will you be able to benefit from the exercise but it will give you a chance to meet like-minded people who can help to motivate you and push you to go further in your training. However, if you are a solitary type of person then the best option for you would be to hire either a personal Pilates instructor or opt for a more intimate Pilates class where the number of participants does not exceed three or four.

In larger Pilates classes some people tend to get distracted and while still working out their bodies the more spiritual or mental aspects of the exercises fall by the wayside. However, in smaller Pilates classes participants can fully concentrate on the mental discipline that often goes hand-in-hand with the exercises.

Whatever you decide, choosing to improve your fitness and toning through the use of Pilates is one of the best things you can do for your body and your mind.

What is Pilates Equipment?

Most people are familiar with Pilates exercises. If they are not too sure what Pilates is all about, they at least know that Pilates is an innovative and highly effective form of getting a total body workout. What most people are not familiar with is the equipment that is used during Pilates workouts. So what is Pilates equipment?

Pilates equipment is any number of different machines that are used to enhance, support or improve the effectiveness of your Pilates workout. Most Pilates equipment is designed to augment the benefits that you can attain through merely performing the Pilates exercises on your own. Much of the equipment used during a regular Pilates workout is highly sophisticated and much of it was either designed by or inspired by machines designed by Joseph Pilates.

There are different types of Pilates equipment on the market. The five most common are as follows: The Pilates Reformer, Pilates resistance bands, the Pilates Cadillac, The Pilates Barrel and the Pilates Chair. There are also smaller props that can be used along with devices known as
Circles and Spine Supporters.

Each piece of equipment serves a specific purpose. The Reformer is probably the most sophisticated and versatile piece of equipment. You can easily perform over one hundred exercises on it. The resistance bands are stretchy strips of material that are great for home workouts and strength training. The Pilates Cadillac was designed by Joseph Pilates to help bedridden patients regain their strength. It is perhaps the most effective equipment used in a Pilates workout. The Barrel is an excellent complement to a mat workout or a circuit session. It supports the back and shoulders and is easily portable. The Chair is another very versatile piece of Pilates equipment. It can easily support and enhance the practice of over seventy-five different exercises.

The other types of equipment used are not as popular although they are very easy to find. If you are just beginning your exploration of the Pilates world then you will most likely start off simply by learning the basic exercises. Once you have mastered the basics of Pilates then you will be ready for more advanced moves using the many pieces of Pilates equipment available to provide you with a more in-depth work-out.

• Pilates equipment - A guide for beginners