Better Back Health with a Pilates Regiment

Pilates has quickly become a revolutionary exercise regiment, especially for people who need a low impact workout due to back injury or some other rehabilitation. Pilates focuses on the core muscles in the trunk ? spine, hips and back ? that help your body maintain its balance and key support for the spine. One of the main goals of this exercise program is developing a concentration and focus on body awareness regarding the alignment of the spine as well as how to strengthen the key muscles that support this postural alignment. The result is an alleviation and prevention of pain, particularly in the back.

Defining Pilates

Joseph Pilates created the Pilates exercise program in the 1920′s to not only improve his overall physical fitness but also to provide a rehabilitation program for wounded soldiers returning home from World War I. After his initial success, Joseph Pilates expounded on his program and incorporated the use of springs to provide low impact resistance. These springs were then carried over into different machines which are now being used today.

Following the primary principles of the Pilates program ensures you get the best workout possible with the minimum amount of stress or injury. Pilates teaches you about mentally focusing on controlling muscle movement as well as efficiency of those movements. The program teaches you how to develop the muscles deep into your abdomen and back for the best postural support. It teaches you how to breathe properly to promote better awareness and focus during your workout in addition to developing flexibility and suppleness in the musculature of the body.

Dancers were the primary practitioners of the Pilates program in the early years as they found the flexibility, strength-building, balance and lengthening of the body quite advantageous to their craft. However, the late 1980′s saw resurgence in Pilates and now it is fast becoming a favored way to work out, especially for people who seek an easy impact way to stay in shape.

You will discover in your first forays into Pilates that there are two primary ways to learn. One way is using a variety of Pilates equipment in a group or private session in a studio and the other way is primarily exercises that can be performed on a mat only with no equipment. If you take lessons that use Pilates equipment, you are sure to see several odd looking pieces which use spring resistance.

One piece of Pilates equipment is called the Reformer which has a sliding stand anchored into a springed frame. You would sit on the sliding platform and use a bar or rope to pull or push, trying to maintain a balance on a moving apparatus. This challenge of maintaining your balance helps work out the muscles stabilizing your spine. Other equipment pieces you might see are the Cadillac and the Wunda Chair which have the ability to help you work your legs, back and arms.

The Pilates exercises on the mat are similar to some types of calisthenics and focus on building up strength in the core muscles in the trunk of your body such as the hips, abdomen and spine. Mat exercises are somewhat limiting so Pilates equipment exercises will bring you the most results. You also might consider work-out programs which combine the key elements of Pilates along with other disciplines like using the exercise ball or yoga. Overall, you will develop strength in your back and trunk area with Pilates.