Pilates
Pilates is a method of body conditioning based on using positioning and gravity to work the muscles.
Function
Pilates workouts focus first on developing strength through the core of the body--the back, abdomen and hips. This provides a foundation to continue working the rest of the body. The concentration is not only on strength but also flexibility and coordination.
Features
The goal of Pilates is overall body fitness, elongated supple muscles, and balance between body and mind, with all the parts of a person working as a whole.
Benefits
Pilates gives practitioners improved posture, increased lung capacity, and strong, sculpted muscles. Its emphasis on all around, complete fitness supports a variety of fitness goals, from building strength to increasing flexibility.
History
German-born Joseph Pilates was frail as a child and studied many different fitness disciplines to improve himself. He brought together ideas from areas such as yoga, Zen Buddhism and acrobatics to create his own fitness method during and after World War I. Pilates moved to New York in the 1920s and began to teach and train other teachers.
Warning
If you are interested in adding Pilates to your program of exercise, make sure you go to a certified instructor with many hours of training specifically in Pilates. Incorrect practice can result in injury.
Karen's Background
Karen certified in Pilates in 2005 with the Physical Mind Body Institute in Tampa, FL. She started her own practice of Pilates in 2000 after having been in several car accidents and experiencing severe pain at an early age. She now attributes her Pilates practice to her strong, sound core and ability to do all different physical activities including her practice of TaeKwondo and Zumba! Karen also has a minor degree in Dance from 1988. For more info about Karen, go to www.karencastle.net.
Famous Ties
Famous faces who have credited Pilates as part of their fitness regimen include basketball player Kobe Bryant, figure skater Sasha Cohen and actress Kate Hudson.
