Pilates

Getting into shape and staying in shape keeps you healthy, strong, and confident. Many exercise programs are available, but you could try one of the fastest growing exercise forms in the world:...

Pilates exercises can help both men and women strengthen and relax their pelvic floor muscles. Weak or tight pelvic floor muscles can be a cause of back pain, prostrate or rectal problems, and a...

Pilates is great for toning your body, increasing flexibility and for weight loss when paired with three days a week of aerobic exercise. Pilates will build muscles, which will increase your...

Pilates exercises are usually thought of as being done on a mat or machine, but there are plenty of Pilates exercises that can be done standing. These exercises are the most beneficial because,...

Pilates is an excellent exercise routine that will allow you to strengthen your core muscle groups, which include your abdominal, back and chest muscles. By strengthening these muscles you will...

Pilates is known for its ability to increase core strength and flexibility, but there are Pilates exercises for the entire body. The shoulders are the smallest of the major muscle groups, but they...

Pilates exercises have evolved to include exercise balls, Bosu balls, rings and resistance bands. Resistance bands are versatile pieces of exercise equipment that are made with different tensions:...

Pilates is a great form of exercise for strengthening the core and improving balance. A Bosu ball is a piece of exercise equipment designed to be a balance trainer. Together, Pilates and a Bosu...

As many as 80 percent of people report low back pain in their lives. Doing Pilates exercises 3 days a week for the low back will keep it strong and reduce the chance of injury or pain. Using a...

Pilates is the name of a form of exercise developed by Joseph Pilates to help develop and maintain fitness. He borrowed from many different fitness techniques, including strength training and...

Whether your workout is Pilates, cardiovascular or strength training based, the stability ball will add challenge. Stability balls are also known as exercise balls, Swiss balls, balance balls and...

Pilates exercises were created by Joseph Pilates in the early 1900s. Originally practiced by elite dancers and other performers, Pilates has now fully entered the mainstream as a safe and...

Many Pilates exercises specifically target the core, much of which is made up of abdominal muscles. By working these muscles, you will increase strength, balance, flexibility and muscle tone, as...

When Joseph Pilates invented Pilates, he did not also invent the exercise ball. The machines used in Pilates weren't invented either. Pilates has evolved, and today the ball is used in many...

Although exercise balls had not been invented when Pilates was, they can still be incorporated with mat Pilates exercises. Using the ball will be more challenging to your balance and core muscles....

Pilates can help improve flexibility, posture, strength and muscle tone. When practiced in conjunction with a cardio routine and healthy diet, Pilates can help you lose stubborn belly fat. While...

Taking your Pilates workout to the next challenging level will help further tone and strengthen your muscles, improve your balance and increase your flexibility. Some of these exercises can be...

Pilates improves flexibility, posture, strength and can flatten the tummy. Most Pilates exercises work the abdominal muscles, while some moves specifically target the area. Choose positions that...

The Pilates exercise program builds strength and stamina through constant movement, controlled breathing and simple transitions between exercises. The Pilates Hundred exercise is a standard...

Pilates is a form of exercise that strives to build strength and improve flexibility. Whether Pilates is done in a class or at home on the floor, a Pilates mat is a necessary piece of equipment...

Pilates rings add interest and intensity to any workout routine. Pilates rings are made of lightweight, flexible metal. The flexible metal allows for resistance training and most models include...

The pelvic floor muscles, in Pilates, are important muscles to stretch properly for both men and women. Learn more about executing proper pelvic floor form from a professional Pilates instructor...

The Pilates half roll-up and full roll-up are excellent exercises to tone the abdominal muscles. The idea of the roll-up is to focus on pressing the low back to the floor, and to use the stomach...

The supine spinal twist is a common movement in both Pilates and yoga. It is a great stretch to help release muscular tension in the back, hips and if you extend you arms out it also stretches the...

The Pilates magic circle is a round plastic devise that adds resistance to typical Pilates mat exercises. There are several types of circles available and each varies in how much resistance it...

Pilates took its place in the fitness world around the 1960s. Since then, people from all walks of life have been dedicated to this workout because it is fairly simple, you can do it at home on...

Many of us would be in much better shape if we had personal trainers. Unfortunately, not all of us can afford personal trainers. If you want to get your legs toned and in shape the following...

The Pilates bicycle exercise is an excellent movement to strengthen the core muscles. It involves lifting the head to work the upper abdominal muscles, twisting movements to isolate the waist or...

The leg pull front is a Pilates exercise that works the core muscles and the legs. The plank position that begins the leg pull front works on strengthening the core, and the added instability of...

The Pilates mermaid exercise is an intermediate level exercise that targets several areas. It not only strengthens the upper and lower abs, but if you place your feet correctly, you will also...

The Pilates swan exercise is a basic Pilates movement that helps to strengthen the lower back muscles and is great for improving posture. As with all Pilates exercises, make sure you do this...

The pelvic tilt exercise in Pilates is a beginner exercise that helps to strengthen your core abdominal muscles. This move can also help develop muscle support for the lower back and ease minor...

Pilates is a fitness regimen that was founded in Germany in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates, for the benefit of returning World War I vets. These days, Pilates is somewhat of an exercise...

Pilates is a fitness regiment that was founded in Germany in the early 20th Century by Joseph Pilates for returning World War I vets. Now Pilates is somewhat of an exercise craze, and rightfully...

Keeping the abdominal muscles strong is important to maintaining good posture and preventing and managing back pain. In order to strengthen the abdominal area, you need to target three different...

Pilates is a form of exercise that you use to help tone your muscles through calm stretching and deep breathing. The arms over head position helps stretch your arms and stabilize your mid back....

When doing Pilates work on the floor one key concept to learn correctly is to imprint your pelvis. This helps you start with the correct form while doing floor moves, and is the starting position...

The Pilates double leg lift is an advanced and challenging exercise that strengthens your upper and lower abdominal muscles. It is very important to keep your back flat on the floor throughout...

Here's a great modification to the classic Pilates Plank exercise. This exercise adds a level of difficulty to the original position and really targets the transverse abdominals (lower abs).

Pilates is known as a great way of strengthening your core by using mostly your own body's resistance. You don't need to lift a lot of heavy weights or buy expensive equipment to get in shape with...

Pilates was originally developed by a doctor to help his bed ridden patients remain fit and toned even when they couldn’t leave the bed. Those exercises have been adapted to the modern day,...

When Joseph Pilates created the Pilates Method, he emphasized the importance of the Powerhouse. He used this term to refer to the way that the muscles of the core, the gluteals and the back work...

If you’re looking for an exercise that will effectively target your thigh muscles, do pilates leg circles. They will not only tighten and strengthen your thighs, but also your abdominal...

It takes a great deal of practice and control to master this exercise. But once you have it down, the Pilates roll over exercise is like getting three exercises in one – stretching the...

Pilates is a great way to build strength and make your entire body feel long and lean. The 100s exercise is a basic Pilates move that will help strengthen your core muscles and allow you to move...

A roll-up exercise is an excellent way to work the intrinsic muscles of the abdomen. It stretches and tones the abs, back and legs using a fluid, non-jarring motion that also helps relax and heal...

Pilates is similar to yoga in that it focuses on mental and physical fitness, but it requires a bit more strength training than traditional yoga. The Hundred is a basic exercise in this...

The Single Leg Lift can strengthen your lower body and your abdominal muscles. You perform it on the exercise ball to maximize its effectiveness. Follow these steps to trim your torso.

The Roll-Up Pilates exercise can produce a flatter stomach and a leaner torso. Follow these steps to effectively perform the Roll-Up Pilates exercise for an intense, ab-flattening experience.

As a classic Pilates exercise, the roll-up is designed to help flatten the abdominals and increase their strength. Some argue one roll-up is equivalent to doing six regular sit-ups. The roll-up...