Move Better, Breath Deeper
This is the new albeit 20th Century regime that will allow you to get your sexy back without huffing and puffing a bucket of sweat or bending over beastly apparatus!
THE ORIGIN OF PILATES.
When German Physical-culturist Joseph Pilates developed this exercise regime back in the 20th Century, his main intent was to strengthen the human mind and body. Pilates believed that mental and physical health is interrelated. This regime is designed around six principles thus; concentration, control, center, flow, precision, and breathing.
1. Concentration
“You have to concentrate on what you’re doing all the time. And you must concentrate on your entire body for smooth movements. This is not easy, but in Pilates the way that exercises are done is more important than the exercises themselves. Apart from the physical fitness, this principle develops a pattern of focus and attention; very-elemental traits in the wedding preps.
2. Control
This is based on the idea of muscle control
All exercises are done with control with the muscles working to lift against gravity and the resistance of the springs and thereby control the movement of the body and the apparatus. The Pilates Method teaches you to be in control of your body and not at its mercy. Which subconsciously translates to self-control; from food to finance…say from your waistline to your pockets.
3. Centering
The center is the focal point of the Pilates Method. Many Pilate’s teachers refer to the group of muscles in the center of the body—encompassing the abdomen, lower and upper back, hips, buttocks, and inner thighs—as the “powerhouse”. All movement in Pilates should begin from the powerhouse and flow outward to the limbs.
4. Flow or efficiency of movement
Pilates aims for elegant sufficiency of movement, creating flow through the use of appropriate transitions. Once precision has been achieved, the exercises are intended to flow within and into each other in order to build strength and stamina. In other words, the Pilates technique asserts that physical energy exerted from the center should coordinate movements of the extremities: Pilates is flowing movement outward from a strong core
5. Precision
The focus is on doing one precise and perfect movement, rather than many halfhearted ones. Pilates reflects upon common physical culture wisdom: “You will gain more strength from a few energetic, concentrated efforts than from a thousand listless, sluggish movements”. The goal is for this precision to eventually become second nature, and carry over into everyday life as graceful as can be!
6.Breathing
It’s literally the breath of life; there is considerable value in increasing the intake of oxygen and the circulation of this oxygenated blood to every part of the body. This cleansing and invigorating process is acquired from practicing exhalation as the key to full inhalation.
To adapt this as a way of life, one is advised to squeeze out the lungs, as they would wring a wet towel dry. Good blood circulation will not only keep you energetic, but also helps in retaining that freshly-ground look and glow on your face
In a few weeks….
- You can do your moves in the comfort of your sitting room… what with all the vendors waiting on your wedding checklist!
- You will gain that graceful posture to balance your gait down the aisle…
- You can still hold your ‘blush’ in the studios! There are no huffy-puffy sweaty moments…just you and your deep breath!
- Pilates will not abandon you at the altar; it’s designed to walk with you through your baby bump and even after your first born knocks in!
