Introduction & Basic Tips for Pilates

Series Summary

Pilates is an exercise system developed by a German man named Joseph Pilates. It was designed to strengthen the body core ( which consists of the abdominal muscles, the lower back muscles, hip flexors, and gluteus muscles) in order to prevent back pain, and help with spine alignment and breathing control. Pilates exercises can be done almost anywhere and can be learned quite easily. In this free online video series learn Pilates exercises from Ricketta Butler, graduate of the University of Florida with a degree and Health Science Education. She teaches and demonstrates exercises such as the forward spine stretch, the corkscrew, criss cross exercise, double leg stretch, neck pull exercise, "roll up exercise", saw exercise, rolling ball, single leg circle, single leg stretch, and the single leg kick.

Video Transcript

"Hi my name is Rikie Butler and I am a fitness professional. I’ve been in the fitness industry for the past 10 and a half years and certified through AFA and Triple AI. If you would like to contact me you can e-mail me at FitnessChic2001@yahoo.com. Today I will begin demonstrating beginning Pilates exercises. To just give you a little bit about what Pilates means, Pilates was created by a man named Joseph Pilates to study strictly in the core and balance. You core consists of your abdominals, your lower back, your glutes or buttocks and your hip flusters. These are all the muscles that will be working today as we continue to do each Pilates exercise. I will give you tips such as pulling your navel into your spine, scooping your navel or lengthening your spine. If I ask you to pull your navel into your spine you are not going to inhale and hold your breath. You are going to continue to breath and just literally tighten the muscles in the abdominal area and pull the navel into towards your spine. When you are scooping, you are going to pull your navel in and up so that the rib cage and the hip bones come closer together. I will go over safety and proper alignment throughout each exercise. Just keep it in mind everything that you are going to do. Your body will be in proper alignment. Ears over shoulders, shoulders over hips, hips over knees and knees over ankles. We are going to go ahead and get started."