The Wonders of Aero Pilates Technology

By Tim Sorrenson

Have you ever seen the new and improved equipment and machines? From simple machines they have evolved into multifunctional gadgets that help make people's lives easier. Well, the same principle applies to physical fitness systems. With that said, Pilates has come a long way from being a method of conditioning returning soldiers who have been badly hurt during the First World War to becoming a fitness sensation around the world, serving as a process to work out muscles and bones to strengthen the body.

With that, Aero Pilates was conceptualized. It was created with the same principles and ideas created by Joseph Pilates, only it has better equipment and more benefits to the user. Originally, Pilates caters to the user with its concepts of proper breathing and exercises by conditioning his/her physical and mental health as well as improving his/her flexibility, endurance, and strength and also, body coordination. These were usually acquired through the use of exercises done on Pilates mats focused on the torso. This enables a person to stabilize various muscles in his body all at the same time. These moves also help with the correct alignment of the spine which was often affected by a person's everyday actions.

To do so, Aero Pilates machines were invented with multiple uses. These added properties were placed in order to 1) assist Pilates users in performing more exercises than before and 2) maintain correct posture while doing all of these. Because of the somewhat complicated nature of the various Pilates positions, these machines are tools in which individuals can properly learn how to execute their moves with much support. Moreover, it aids them in keeping a healthy cardiovascular system.

With all of these, it is simple to see that Aero Pilates is nothing but a continuation and improved version of Pilates. It enables users to be more productive with their longing for better body coordination and posture using these machines, which are achieved with its build in features. One of which is a trampoline-like installment which lets users move without putting a great deal of stress unto their joints. Also, the machine allows a person to carry out a series of difficult moves with not much hassle due to it being elevated inches from the ground. As a matter of fact, this very feature lets a person complete any of the 50 moves Pilates has.

Surely, beginners can also use an Aero Pilates machine. With its adjustable shoulder pads and other built in functions, it will help new Pilates users to learn the numerous moves the system has in store for them. In addition, every machine is prepared with instructional videos containing with them how-to guides-regarding setting up and caring for the equipment-and the different Pilates positions that a user can do.

True enough, Pilates has become easier and more beneficial with the creation of Aero Pilates. Through the use of new equipment, Pilates is no longer complicated but easy to reach; a healthier, leaner and well-coordinated body can be achieved faster. With the wonders of technology, just about anyone who longs for a better physical condition can undergo the many advantages that Pilates promises for them. - 32527

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Pilates Work Out Basics and Benefits

By Grace Isabel

The Pilates training exemplar was promoted by Joseph Pilates during the 1920s. The essence of this sort of workout is the emphasis on fortifying muscle elasticity and core strength.

Pilates followers are passionate about the training method owing to the adaptability it presents. Thus, the elderly, expectant women or folks needing some form of rehabilitation could train without worries and individuals who are eager to elevate their physical health are also able to profit from the virtues influenced by this method.

Each Pilates physical exercise relies upon the use of the core muscles. These are the deep abdominal and back muscles. If you manage to fortify the core muscles, they will influence the other surface muscles thereby, reinforcing the spine and establishing freedom of mobility. Therefore, the condition of the core muscles manipulates the health of the entire upper body. This is also the reason why a number of sufferers with back afflictions get ease by joining fundamental Pilates programs.

The unmatched Pilates physical exercise underscores the importance of carrying out the moves correctly with no emphasis on movement number of repetitions. If the workout were executed with exactitude, then the upshot would be much more than just satisfactory. The processes for a Pilates exercise are more counterbalanced and quite unhurried, which makes it rewarding for everyone regardless of their vigor. It should be mentioned here that you should begin any Pilates workout program with the training of an accredited Pilates coach.

Here is a collection of deceptively straightforward workouts. They are routines that teach the standard movement doctrines upon which Pilates exercises are put together. Work these Pilates maneuvers to open any exercise regime.

Neutral Spine, Rest and Beginning Position

To detect relaxed spine, press the small of the back into the floor, thus, creating a flattened back. Thereafter, release the back to form an arch. The three curves of your spinal column are in their natural post within these two points. Launch all your workouts in this position.

The Beginner Poses:

Lie prone on your back and put your arms to your sides. Your knees are bent, feet and legs parallel to each other about shoulder width apart. Breath in. Exhale and utilize your abdominal muscles to press down the lower part of the back toward the mat. Breathe in and relax. Exhale and pull-up your lower back, shaping a little curve of the lower part of the back. Inhale to discharge.

Head Nod

Nodding head is a prolongation of the spine that we prefer to do in Pilates. It is an integral step in many Pilates workouts that link the spine in frontward twists and round about workouts.

Kick it off in the beginner pose. Inhale to extend the back and turn the chin down toward the chest. Your head remains on your mat. Exhale when you return to the neutral pose. Breath in to tip the head back a little bit. Breath out when you get back to the starting move.

Arms over:

The arms over move aims to keep your alignment as the torso is challenged by the arms pushing overhead. It also helps to increase the range of movement of the shoulders.

From the starting position, inhale while you move the fingertips up to the ceiling. Exhale while you move the arms down towards the floor to your back. Inhale as you position your arms up again. Exhale to relax back to the floor.

Tip: Keep your abdominal tight. Try not to allow the action of your arms to influence the position of your ribs.

The Angel Arms Pose

Although it engages other muscle groups, arms of an angel, similar to arms overhead, helps you perfect your understanding of how to use your arms and shoulders without compromising the alignment of your back and your ribcage.

From the basic pose, breath in as your arms move out to the sides. Exhale when you get your arms back to your sides.

Points to remember: The abs stay working. Your ribs stay down. Your shoulders do not go up with your arms. Keep them far from your ears.

Clockwork Motion of the Pelvis

A modest, yet very revealing position, clockwork motion of the pelvis enhances cognizance of the pelvis and strengthens the muscles needed for pelvic stability.

Think of a watch or clock placed under the lower abdominal area. The 12:00 is at your bellybutton, the 3 clock is on your left hip, the six clock is at your pubic bone, and the nine clock is your right hipbone.

Using your ab muscles to begin and control the motion, chronologically move around the clock pulling first the 12:00 down, then rotate to the three, six and nine.

Suggestions: Pelvic rotation is a tiny move. Your hips should not pull off the floor. The idea is to rotate your pelvis and not affect the stability of the rest of the body.

The Knee Fold Motion:

To be in a position to turn your leg in the hip socket while not affecting the stableness of your pelvis is one of the most significant goals of the folding knee motion. This form of movement is essential in all types of motions that we do in everyday life, for example, lifting, sitting or walking.

From the starting pose, on a breath in, use your abs to raise a single leg off the mat or floor. Have a deep crease at the hip. Blow out and put your foot back to the mat and in doing so, make use of abdominal control. Try not to let your hip flexors take over.

Tip: Maintain a deep fold at the hip and do not let your hip rise with the leg. Be certain that your tailbone is secured on the mat.

Get the help of a certified Pilates trainer and join some kind of Pilates workout program especially if you have low back problems. Statistics imply that the rate of recovery of individuals with painful physical manifestations is brighter for those who practice Pilates healing methods. Pliability and adaptability of the exercise routines permits each trainee to develop at their own pace.

With little risk, no agony and reasonable fees to join a health club that offers Pilates, start now for your well being and fitness! - 32527

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Introduction to Pilates

By Maria Sanchez

Pilates promotes, among other things, proper back and spinal alignment, good posture, and flexibility. Furthermore, a person who does pilates regularly builds up his or her body's strength, fluid movement, strength, tone, and balance. Pilates is regarded as a total fitness system, since the participant's "center," the link between his or her body and consciousness are enhanced with pilates.

Pilates for beginners does not require high levels of fitness to be done. It should be easy for a first timer, whether man or woman, young or old, as long as a physician has cleared one's bill of health. There are factors, though that anyone considering pilates for beginners should take into account. Lack of physical activity for a long time and the presence of medical conditions should deter someone from practicing pilates unless a specific program designed by a fitness professional can suit that person.

Pilates for beginners should be avoided if one is currently under over-the-counter or prescribed pain medication or drugs that alter one's mood. Alcohol should not be consumed before practicing pilates. If one feels sick, such as flu or fever, or is currently injured, pilates should be avoided until after full recovery. It is advisable to do pilates two hours after eating a meal.

When doing pilates for beginners, one's attire should not restrict you from moving freely. Comfortable clothing should be worn when practicing pilates. Tight clothing and clothes with restrictive waistbands and garters should be avoided.

Warm up is an important part in pilates for beginners to ready the body for conditioning. Warm up exercises such as the arm reach and pull, angel arms, and imprinting are needed. These warm up exercises promote stability, mobility, mindfulness in movement, relaxing, and "centering" of the body, particularly in the core parts of the arms, shoulders, ribcage, spine, and back. These warm up exercises also promote ease in breathing, a vital component in pilates.

Most people think that pilates is just a fad fitness craze that ultimately does not really offer substantial health benefits. This could not be more wrong. A pilates practitioner becomes more conscious of his bodily functions as proper breathing, straightness of the alignment of the pelvis and spine, and fluidity of movement is emphasized. With continuous practice, pilates promotes lean and long muscles, and not bulky and short muscles that are more susceptible to injury. - 32527

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The Magic of Pilates Rings

By Marianne Hudson

If you aim to lose weight or tone your muscles without the aid of weights and other bulky gym equipments, then the Pilates ring exercises are the right type of workout routines for you. Pilates ring exercises are increasingly becoming popular because of the fact that they can be done easily, and the results of such exercises can be noticeable in just a few sessions. In fact, doing Pilates ring exercises for about thirty minutes to one hour three times a week can create noticeable results in one month.

Pilates ring exercises are easy to perform. However, it must be ensured that such exercises are performed correctly in order to attain the best results. Besides, exercises using the ring are more than just squeezing. If the exercise is not done properly, it may bring about some form of injury. To avoid future injuries, it is advisable to seek advice from a Pilates instructor before you begin to do your exercises. Likewise, there are available instructional DVDs and books that you can follow.

Pilates ring exercises are very advantageous in different ways. For instance, you do not have to go to the gym to lift weights in order to develop sturdy muscles. Also, by doing exercises that make use of the ring, you can get rid of the likelihood of suffering from injury, strain or body aches after every workout session.

If the chest exercise targets the upper body, another commonly practiced Pilates ring exercise targets the lower body. The person will start off at a lying position. Then, he squeezes the ring between his legs so as to allow resistance to build up in the leg muscles and the abdominal area.

Unlike other gym equipments, the Pilates ring is more transportable and easy to carry. This is highly beneficial to people who are usually taking trips but would still like to maintain a healthy lifestyle through exercise. Regardless of the time and location, the ring can be readily available for use.

When to go to a gym and sports equipment store, you can find various types of rings. The rings are differentiated on the basis of the materials used for making the rings. They can be either crafted from either steel, fiberglass, or plastic. Aside from material, the rings also differ in size. However, the standard diameter size is usually between 12 inches to 15 inches. There are also variations of color for you to choose from. In terms of resistance, the differences are typically dependent on the material and diameter of the ring. Handles of the rings also come in different variations. Still, some handles of the rings can be modified depending on your chosen design. If you really want to get serious about you Pilates ring exercise and get the best possible results, you have to choose the most appropriate ring for you by considering your age, gender, and body type. - 32527

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Aero Pilates Works Out Multiples

By Tony Markus

A calming and peaceful way to gain the confidence you need is through aero Pilates. This physical and mental exercise is derived from the original, authentic teachings of Joseph Pilates which surpasses the typical exercises that promise a healthier and stronger body. This practice trains the mind to stay focused as well concentrate on certain muscles that need to be developed and made leaner. As the body becomes stronger and healthier, it is definitely a factor to make one more confident and proud.

Available in the market at present are a number of aero Pilates machines that have varying features for comfort, resistance levels, and body health solutions. The purpose of the machines when used to perform the sets of exercises is to optimize the effects of the workout throughout the body. With the traditional exercise enhancing certain muscle group, the machines allows other muscles not often used on a regular basis to develop and be toned as well.

A mini vertical trampoline known as cardio rebounder is one of the extra components used in aero Pilates. Use of this equipment while performing the sets of exercises provides low impact cardiovascular training that helps improve the health of the heart and also accelerate weight loss. The use of this equipment, contrary to some speculation, is gentle to the joints and connective tissue which minimizes the cases of injury, but instead consistently uses and also strengthens other muscles that are not well-developed and utilized in daily activities. Other types of equipment, which can be made of steel or wood, essentially provide the same effects to the body. The only difference is the kind of workouts performed using the different machines.

Aero Pilates is designed to boost aerobic endurance and muscle strength, use of the machines will enable one to have muscles able to hold more resistance than normal. In addition to that, even though the incorporation of machines in this form of exercise produces low impact cardiovascular training for individuals, it still manages to make the body exert more effort to perform the necessary movements that will make the maximum number of muscles to move and develop.

Beginners who would like to try out aero Pilates are becoming enthusiastic and eager to learn the technique mainly because of its emphasis on both physical and spiritual advancement. A lot of proponents help popularize this course of therapy to others because even though it is quite harder than other exercises, it provides more rewarding results and effects to the human body.

Due to the fact that the use of machines in performing aero Pilates may at certain occasions cause some minor injuries, it is best for practitioners to consult experts before executing the different workouts. There are also manuals and guides that emphasize the principles involved in the workouts that will inform and educate aficionados on the proper movements that will avoid accidents and injuries when performing the exercises. It is essential to keep in mind that in order to obtain best results in this exercise, one must be concerned with the method of practice, execution of movements, breath control and proper positions. - 32527

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Pilates Mat Exercises Must Be Usually Rewarding And Challenging

By Thaya Kareeson

Pilates mat exercises have little variation from typical Pilates exercises, which have been around for a very long time. Recently people have taken a liking to using different tools to enjoy their Pilates. The mats used in the specific Pilates mat exercises below is one helpful tool to use while exercising.

Pilates was first created as a physical fitness method in the early twentieth century in Germany. Even though it has a long history, in 2005 over eleven million people were reportedly doing it on a regular basis. As of that time, there were fourteen thousand instructors for Pilates in just the United States. Most instructors will provide Pilates mat exercises and the mats that they require, right in class.

One of the easier Pilates mat exercises is the inner thigh lift. The mat is used to help the spine line up straight as the exerciser lays on their side, hip to the floor, leg extended towards the foot of the mat. The lower arm can support the head in a hand, or it can stretch out across the floor. The upper leg bends so the foot can be placed before of the hips, flat to the mat as the knee pushes away. The inner thigh is used to lift and lower the leg on the floor, without letting that leg touch the floor.

Pilates mat exercises can help a person articulate the entire spine and move it in a roll from flexion through to extension. The Teaser One maneuver is started on the back and meant to do just that. The arms are above the head and the legs are lifted up to a forty-five degree angle. With the tightening of the abdominal muscles, the spine curls up and the hands float over the legs then lift up above the head as the body comes into a perfect V pose. Then the body lowers back to the mat, with the legs going up above the body in a ninety degree angle.

Even though Pilates mat exercises should mostly be done on the floor, some will start standing up, like the 'walk out and push up' exercise. Start standing at the foot of the mat with the arms extended above the head. As the arms lower, the chin drops to the chest and the spine curls. The pelvis remains pushed forward. With the hands flat on the floor and heels together, walk the right hand out, then the left. The right hand moves to be even with the left and the body is tightened. With the head lifted so that the crown is in alignment with the spine and the legs are in center line, the body is now in what is called 'head to heels as if like steel'. The elbows then bend an inch, which lowers the body slightly before the elbows straighten once more.

Another type of push up that is included in the Pilates mat exercises many people do is that of the Leg Pull Front Support. This is started face down on the mat and would be uncomfortable on a straight floor. The palms are at the sides of the body, near the shoulders. The legs are extended and the knees are lifted, with the toes pushing on the mat. While keeping the body in alignment, the hands push up until the shoulders and chest are over the thumbs. The shoulders press down the back and release, so that the area above the heart in the back is soft while the same 'head to heels like steel' position is used. With the abdominal muscles tight and the ribs pulled back into the spine, this position is held for several seconds before slowly being released, with control, and the body comes to the mat again.

Pilates mat exercises should be done with a genuine Pilates mat, not a yoga mat. Yoga mats are thinner because they intend for yoga practitioners to feel the floor. For Pilates, exercisers need to be padded from the floor, so the mats should be half an inch thick and made of good quality foam. Pilates mats can be rolled up or folded. They should also be about four feet by eight feet in size.

Pilates mat exercises have been a beneficial way to use a mat while doing Pilates. They allow people of different abilities the opportunity to become stronger, fitter, and increase their agility. Pilates can be a very safe and healthy way to get fit. - 32527

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Pilates Fitness Equipment And Its Uses

By Jennifer Willenson

Pilates focuses on muscle control and core strengths. Awareness of the breath helps the spine stay supported and the body flexible and balanced. It also uses muscle control to keep the body strong. There are a number of types of machines and pilates fitness equipment that are used in the system.

The reformer is a popular piece of pilates equipment that is crafted out of wood. It consists of springs, a footboard, and a pulley. The pulley is used to push or pull the carriage with body weight resisting against the equipment for optimal conditioning. The reformer's main focus is on that of flexibility and core strengthening.

The Cadillac is a large piece of equipment that has various devices attached to it, such as a trapeze, leg and arm springs, and a stretching bar. Every muscle group can be isolated with the machine. It is rarely used in classes, being so large, but can be found in private Pilates classes.

The spine corrector, another pilates based device, is a barrel that restores spinal curvatures. By strengthening the abdominal muscles and back, it keeps the spine flexible and helps to alleviate any hunchbacked symptoms, and also tones core and leg muscles.

The Wunda chair is another resistance exercising device. The wunda chair targets muscle groups that are normally hard to isolate with traditional exercises. It places focus on upper and lower body conditioning.

Many other props, like disks and resistance bands, weighted balls, and the magic circle, which is a padded ring that provides light resistance, are also available for pilates use. These are good for targeting problem areas like the inner and outer thighs and arms and chest.

Pilates focuses on what they call the powerhouse muscles, the muscles in the center of the body. This includes the buttocks and lower back and hips, centered in the body, and oxygenation of the muscles. Pilates is a great tension reducer for the shoulders and neck. - 32527

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