Does Pilates Fitness Workout Help Me Get Rid Of Cellulite?

There was a question that came to my attention when I was doing my usual research online for my Winsor Pilates Fitness Blog. The question was: I have some cellulite on my legs, and I started doing this things called Pilates. Are they efficient against cellulite?”

Well, the answer is a resounding YES. Contrary to what some think, Pilates is not an easy form of exercise and it’s not meant for women only. One needs to to gain awareness of muscles and motor patterns of muscle movements that you may have never been aware of before. It takes practice and dedication to develop these skills. The more experience you gain with Pilates the more you will feel the most basic and essential level exercises. Pilates begins with some basic principles and builds from there into essential, intermediate, and advanced level exercises.

In the usual Pilates fitness workout, you should be guided by a Pilates instructor on how to engage the proper muscles. Due to the fact that Pilates can be a complicated form of exercise it is recommended to complete 10-20 private sessions before attempting to do the Pilates workout on your own. Here are some workout patterns:

• Warm Up to get connected with your core muscles with some deep breaths engaging the Transverse with each exhale and trying to hold it on with the inhale. Then with your breath move the pelvis from neutral to imprint focusing on staying engaged in the core.
  Also draw awareness to your shoulder girdle by shrugging the shoulders up with the inhale and down into a stabile position with the exhale.

• AB PREP 8 reps knees bent, arms at side, inhale to prepare then flex the spine into the ab prep position, inhale to hold and exhale to lower down. Repeat ab prep 8 times.

• EXTENSION 5 reps lie prone, legs together, belly pulled up toward the spine, arms bent up with palms overlapping under the forehead, keep forehead on the hands and inhale to prepare, exhale to extend, lifting up slightly. Hover just above the surface with upper traps relaxed, inhale to hold, exhale to return.

• HUNDREDS 10 sets of 10 lie supine with legs in a table top position, arms at side. Inhale to prepare, exhale to flex spine. Pumping the arms, inhale for 5 counts, exhale for 5 counts, repeat 10 times. Stay in the flexed position with the back imprinted.

• SPINE TWIST 5 reps to each side seated with legs straight out and together. If you cannot sit upright with straight legs sit on a block to take the tension out of the hamstrings. Arms out to the side, inhale to prepare, exhale to twist, inhale to rotate. Repeat to the other side.

• SHOULDER BRIDGE 10 reps each leg lie supine, knees bent, your feet lined up with sit bones and arms by the sides. Inhale to prepare, exhale to lift the hips up, inhale to lift one leg straight up, exhale to lower that leg down to the height of the bent leg, then lift it right back up. Do 10 reps each leg.

• SIDE LYING LEG LIFT 10 reps each side lie on side, legs stacked on each other. Inhale to prepare, exhale to lift the legs together, inhale to lower. Keep legs together and straight. Repeat on other side 10 reps

• SHELL STRETCH roll to a prone position and push back to sit back on heels with arms stretched out over head. This is similar to fetal position. If shoulders are tight you can keep your arms down at your sides.

This is just a simple Pilates fitness workout that can be done everyday. This workout is a balance of flexion, extension, rotation, hip extension, and side flexion. You can certainly add additional exercises to this Pilates workout to make it more challenging, but this is a good starting point. This workout can be done anywhere and can be really helpful if done in the middle of your work day to stretch muscles that routinely tighten up while seated at your desk.

Achieving The Pilates Body – Part Two

Couple of weeks ago, I wrote about Achieving The Pilates Body, here is the continuing post on how you can achieve this dream. Pilates is a continuing educational process. There is always something new to learn in every Pilates session and this makes the entire workout very exciting and inspiring.

Whether you decide to learn from your own home or get some instruction, keep your mind tuned to these three tips.

First, pay attention to correct form for every move that you learn. While form is always important in exercise, it is critical with this form. The long, lean muscles that Pilates is famous for creating depend on you working the right muscles in the right way.

If you are learning through a Pilates video or DVD then it is a good idea to watch it through at least once before you start. This will prevent you from straining to see the screen to check your form. If you are taking a class, then your instructor should keep an eye out to ensure you get proper form on each move.

Second, consistency is very important. You cannot do this type of exercise every once in awhile and get the body you desire. It takes consistent work to form a great body. Don’t expect results overnight, but give it all your effort at least three to four times a week and you will definitely start to see changes.

Third, progress is extremely important. The longer you do the same movements or the same combinations, the easier it will be for your body to perform them. This means your body will be more efficient and burn less calories while doing it, which ultimately means less change for you.

To prevent this from happening, change things up from time to time. If you are taking a class, try to attend a few sessions by a different instructor or look for more advanced sessions. If you are working with a DVD, then you should start attempting the harder move variations as soon as possible. You should also try to find new DVDs to get a variety.

Achieving the Pilates body of your dreams is entirely possible if you give it all your effort and pay attention to these three tips. For faster results, try to mix in as much cardio as possible and change your eating habits.

Achieving The Pilates Body – Part One

If you really want to make a hot Pilates body your reality rather than your dream, there are some very important steps that you must take to get there. Remember, nothing good ever comes for free!

First of all, there are quite a few ways to learn Pilates. If money and time are of issue you can purchase Pilates Video and DVDs and start learning the moves in your own home. This is a great idea for anyone who is overweight or otherwise very uncomfortable walking into a class with other people.

Pilates videos and DVDs will include versions of the exercises that can be done without equipment, but you can now also purchase real Pilates equipment that is compact enough to fit into your home. If you can afford to go this route it is the best way to get maximum results from home. But before you can purchase any Pilates equipment especially the reformer or the more expensive machines, it’s best to get some private Pilates training with a certified instructor. It’s no point buying a Pilates machine and realizing that you don’t even know how to use it.

If you live close to a Pilates studio then signing up for classes will definitely bring the results you want. This way allows you to gain the knowledge from skilled instructors who will ensure that you are meeting all three of the steps presented in the next post. There are also various types of Pilates fitness styles available and you may want to join one to experience more.

A local gym may also have classes and they may be cheaper than going through an actual studio. Next post, we’ll talk about the critical steps to acheiving a Pilates Body – Stay tuned!

Pilates Fitness on a Pilates Reformer machine

I almost can’t believe it when I learnt that more than 10 million people in America are Pilates fitness followers. I’m not sure about the figures in Asia but I’m glad to be one of them!

Since picking up Pilates fitness, I can spot a more toned legs when I’m in my shorts – I don’t wear minis What I can’t seem to fathom is that I always feel like my body is crashing after an one hour Pilates fitness workout every week. It’s not a bad feeling cos you do feel like something in your body is seriously working. I can almost understand why there is a long list of celebrities who are Pilates fitness and one of them with nice a Pilates body is Gwyneth Paltrow, who also owns a Pilates reformer.

I enjoy exercising on the Pilates reformer machine week after week. The Pilates reformer machine, is a great piece of exercise equipment and an essential when it comes to true Pilates fitness training. With the help of a certified Pilates instructor, Pilates students are guided by close instruction, pulling on ropes and springs that work to resist one’s body weight. Personally, I believe that the benefits of exercising with the Pilates reformer are optimum when the training is done on a one-on-one or duet basis. That way, the instructor will be able to provide you a close guidance, making sure that you are engaging on the right breathing and Pilates fitness techniques.

If you are unable to start Pilates fitness on a reformer machine, most gyms offer a series of mat Pilates classes where strength-building exercises and stretches are carried out on a Pilates mat and other Pilates equipment including the stability ball and resistance bands.

is pilates for weight loss?

The focus of Pilates is not about losing weight, and yet, like Yoga, losing weight happens to be one of the secondary benefits of the enhanced muscle tone it brings. As a matter of fact, the slow, deliberate burning of fat linked to Pilates fitness in reality goes on for hours subsequent to the exercises themselves.

Most professional trainers and fitness instructors agree that you should take private Pilates fitness classes to learn the proper techniques in order to receive the full benefit of Pilates. However, classes can be expensive and many people prefer to exercise in the comfort of their own home.

It is important to learn to breathe correctly for Pilates to maximize the benefit of the exercises. The type of breathing used in Pilates is called thoracic breathing, or “rib” breathing. Pilates for weight loss can be carried out via a Pilates video from home. Following a series of instructions and Pilates workouts can help you get the most benefit from your Pilates weight loss goals.

Although, many people don’t understand how a low intensity Pilates workout program can help with weight loss. What many people don’t realise is that if you are constantly moving and working your body, it doesn’t have to be with heavy machines to lose the weight. Doing both programs (the cardio section and the mat section) gives a good total body workout without wiping you out for the whole day.

The main focus of the Pilates workout is to engage what is known as the powerhouse (the stomach and other core muscles of the body) to gain strength and, in the process, shed extra pounds. A specific method of breathing is also employed during key moments of the movements.