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Pilates Exercise Promotes Better Health

The Pilates exercise system is useful in promoting back health and is an exercise program that helps by keeping the body balanced as well as being instrumental in providing spinal support by being at the heart of the core postural muscles. The Pilates exercise helps to strengthen the deep postural muscles and this in turn helps to alleviate as well as prevents back pain.

Developed in the early 1990s

Named after its originator, the Pilates exercise program is a system that was originally developed in the early 1990s with the aim of improving health as well as for supporting the health of World War I internees. This was followed by incorporation of springs into programs for rehabilitation used on hospitalized patients, which was further developed into machines and finally unique equipment was created that is now used in the Pilates exercise system.

There are a few important principles that are included in all Pilates exercise programs and some of these are:

1. Using mental focus to improve efficiency of movement as well as controlling muscles.

2. Being aware of neutral spine alignment or proper posture while exercising.

3. Developing the deep muscles of the back and abdomen in order to support such posture.

4. Using breathing to promote mental focus as well as centering.

5. Creating length, strength as well as flexibility in the muscles.

In the beginning, Pilates exercise was mainly used by professionals such as dancers who found these exercises worthwhile for improving strength, balance as well as flexibility and in the 1980s the Pilates exercise was rediscovered and is presently a very popular form of exercise for those who need health benefits.

There are two formats of the Pilates exercise and these are using the one of kind Pilates’ equipment in private or semi-private sessions and group mat classes that does not require equipment.

With the Pilates equipment, use is made of the resistance of springs in order to create effort and the main piece of equipment is known as the Reformer which has a sliding platform anchored at one end of its frame with springs and this platform is able to be moved by pushing off from a stationary bar or pulling on ropes. On the other hand, mat exercises which are normally taught in group classes, focus on the spine as well as the hips and the scope of the mat program is not extensive as that of the machines.