Fat 2 Fit: The Practice of Pilates
Try adding Pilates to your workout to increase strength, balance, and flexibility—and decrease your risk of injury.
By: Carole Carson | Source: AARP.org | 2008-10-16
Injury or illness can make getting into shape extremely difficult—not to mention dangerous! The same is true for trying to get fit after years of being sedentary.
What exercises can safely be done when rehabilitating, recovering, or beginning?
For both men and women, the non-impact exercises of Pilates may be the answer. A German fitness expert, Joseph Pilates, developed the system more than 80 years ago for disabled World War I veterans to restore and improve their range of motion. The practice took hold with dancers and movie stars but remained expensive. As equipment became more affordable and the emphasis on fitness grew, the popularity of Pilates spread.
Through breathing and specific movements, Pilates exercises work to lengthen and strengthen muscles. Improved breathing and body alignment, more graceful movement, increased body awareness, and expanded range of motion all result. In addition, more energy, less pain, more oxygen to your muscles, and steadier balance make daily life easier.
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