How to Do Pilates at Home

One of the reasons pilates has drastically increased in popularity is because it can be easily performed at the gym or in your own home. In addition, while there are some pricey pilates machines on the market, you don't need to spend a fortune to get started. Pilates also aims to work both your body and mind, a concept which differs from most traditional aerobics and cardiovascular workouts.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Home pilates equipment
• Exercise space

1. Consider taking at least one or two pilates classes to get the basics down. While you can then continue with your exercises at home, taking a class or two will help ensure you're doing the techniques properly and not causing undue strain on your body.

2. Invest in basic pilates equipment you can use at home. This includes a mat, proper clothing, instructional DVDs and a fitness ball. You can find most of these items at your local sporting goods store, but you may want to search online for competitive prices.

3. Consider getting more advanced, expensive equipment as you become more involved in pilates. For example, there are several large machines, such as the reformer, the cadillac and the wunda chair, which can help you tone all of the muscles in your body.

4. Find a nice, quiet place to work out at home. You should preferably have a separate area set up for your pilates equipment. Of course, when you have instructional DVDs, you should work out near the television.

5. Make time to consistently work out. When you do pilates at home, it can be difficult to find the motivation to exercise 2 to 3 times a week. However, the only way to see results is by making a conscious effort to do your exercises.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult with a certified pilates instructor every so often to make sure you're on the right track. Working with an instructor every once in awhile also may provide you with new exercises to add to your routine.
• Be sure you warm up before you start your pilates workout. When you're working out at home, it can be easy to forget to warm up your muscles. Jogging in place or taking a quick walk can help you avoid unnecessary injuries.
• Doing pilates at home may bring a higher risk of injury. If you don't perform the techniques properly, you cause serious injury to your back. In addition, you may not know your limit and might push your body too hard by exercising too often.

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[kohuether]

on 4/17/2008 It is so important that one has good form. That's why I love your first step - take a class. No better way to learn than from an expert!