The secret to your Pilates success as a beginner…

I have 3 Pilates secrets for you! 

• Absolutely every Pilates workout you do is designed to be a total body workout that strengthens your core the entire time! Who doesn’t want that?
• The absolute key to progressing quickly and safely is in how you do the exercises.  
• This is the big one…Using the Pilates equipment can speed up your progress toward more strength, flexibility and balance in your body because of it’s genius design!   Here’s how:

1. The equipment is designed to help you get your body into positions where you are able to safely stabilize your body using your core muscles without overworking or injuring muscles. Here’s an example:  Have you ever laid down with your legs up in space over your hips?  For many this position feels impossible to be in and can even hurt their back.  The Pilates springs can be used to support the legs in this position so that the core muscles can effectively stabilize the spine against the mat(this means your back does not hurt!) and then a variety of whole body strengthening exercises can be done in this position. After using the equipment to gain strength and balance, eventually you will be able to do these type of exercises without the springs!
2. The equipment is designed to help you find a balanced alignment in your body.  Alignment is very important in Pilates because results come quickest when we can perform the exercises in alignment creating uniform strength and flexibility in our muscles.  Because our movement patterns over time shape our alignment it is often hard to tell if you are in proper alignment without looking in a mirror or having someone else tell you. Laying on the center of Pilates reformer automatically brings your head, neck and shoulders into alignment and you can easily bring your legs into alignment on the center of the foot bar.  The equipment supports you so you can maintain this alignment throughout exercises.  This  alignment makes the leg press type exercise we do called Footwork  so much more effective than a traditional leg press because you are recruiting muscles evenly and in a balanced way.   
3. The equipment design allows for endless possibilities to strengthen your whole body in a safe way. You will be amazed at the ways you can strengthen your whole body and especially those core muscles without feeling liked you are straining, struggling or hurting yourself!  There is no boredom of movements in Pilates class!  

If you are looking to start a Pilates practice and are excited to feel results in how your body feels as quickly as possible you’ll definitely want to add some regular equipment classes into your regular routine! Schedule a complimentary private session to get started at the studio and we’ll give you an introduction to how you could use the Pilates equipment in your life!