Get Moving

Pilates (focus on different ways to do pilates such as mat, reformer, trapeze,)

Have you ever completed a really difficult workout, and thought to yourself after, “Man, it’s amazing what my body can do.”  Our bodies are incredible, and capable of so much more than we think.  When we do exercises like pilates, we’re constantly twisting and turning our bodies into weird shapes, as well as building up endurance in our core so we can be the powerhouse that our parents and personal trainers would be proud of.  If we want to push the body just a little bit further, then why limit ourselves to just one type of pilates workout?  

There are so many different ways to take advantage of what Pilates has to offer, so you can get amazing results that make you proud of your own body.  An excellent type of Pilates workout is the reformer.  The reformer is a Pilates machine that encourages you to do one thing: Just keep moving.  You would make all of your normal pilates poses, but with the assistance of straps, and a rolling platform, you can push yourself further, and work with more resistance to tone your core and lower body.  The results are highly beneficial, making you more flexible on a day to day basis, as well as improving your posture, helping you appear taller and more well-balanced.

 

 

Looking for something a little less demanding?  How about mat pilates?  Unlike reformer, it’s equipment free, and it’s meant to work with your body at your own pace while cushioning you for more support.  It’s safe for pregnant women to do, and it’s a good way to build yourself up to something more challenging, because the poses slowly increase in difficulty as it moves on.  

The last type of pilates I’ll be talking about is not for those who have a fear of heights.  That is trapeze pilates.  Yeah, you heard me right.  Looking like an extension of the reformer machine, trapeze pilates allows you to take your workout to the sky (or just about six feet above the ground.)  It’s excellent for men and women, with features like the “push bar” to allow you to hang and pose for stability purposes.  The table under you does not move, so if heights make you a little woozy, then it will be comforting to know that you have plenty of support if you have trouble hanging on.  

All forms of pilates work the same way essentially, but everyone has a different difficulty setting, so choose what you think will be right for you and your body.  Whether you want to stick to the ground or hang from a pole, your Pilates workout should be fun, satisfying, and it should make you want to say, “my body is capable of amazing things.”