I want to give a shoutout to Mary Ann for sharing this excellent short article by Melissa Niece at SoBeenThere.com detailing the benefits of regular Pilates exercise. Here's the article.
Have you ever tried Pilates? This incredible workout is a system of mind-body exercises that teach body awareness, good posture, and easy, graceful movement. Many of us are unaware of how we sit, stand, and move. Developing personal awareness enables you to relate your habits and posture to the aches and pains you experience regularly, and then put them to an end. Pilates works on building core strength for a stronger, healthy back and body. While practicing Pilates, your mind is trained to create symmetry and coordination in your body. You develop an awareness that brings focus to your body and posture as you go through daily life. If you haven’t tried Pilates, here are some reasons to consider adding it to your routine:
Mind-body awareness - By emphasizing proper breathing, correct spinal and pelvic alignment, and concentration on smooth, flowing movement, you become acutely in tune with your body and learn how to control its movement.
Gain long, lean muscles and flexibility - More conventional or traditional workouts are weight bearing and tend to build short, bulky muscles - the type most prone to injury. Pilates elongates and strengthens, improving muscle elasticity and joint mobility. A body with balanced strength and flexibility is less likely to be injured.
Create an evenly conditioned body, improve sports performance, and prevent injuries - Pilates conditions the whole body, even the ankles and feet. No muscle group is over trained or under trained. Your entire musculature is evenly balanced and conditioned, helping you enjoy daily activities and sports with greater ease, better performance, and less chance of injury.
It is gentle - Many of the exercises are performed in reclining or sitting positions, and most are low impact and partially weight bearing. Pilates is so safe that it is used in physical therapy facilities to rehabilitate injuries.
It is challenging - Pilates is an extremely flexible exercise system. Modifications to the exercises allow for a range of difficulty, ranging from beginner to advanced. Get the workout that best suits you now, and increase the intensity as your body conditioning improves.