What is Pilates?
Pilates is a pretty much full on abs session. Pilates is a mat based class that focuses on your core muscles - your abdominals.
3 Factors for Pilates Success
There are three REALLY important factors to Pilates;
1. Breathing
2. Core Contraction
3. Neutral Spine
1. Breathing is vital... thats a general statement. But it is vital for training Pilates properly. You need to slow your breathing down and visualise your breathing cycle.
Breath in (through your mouth) - 4 counts in
Breath out (through your mouth) - 4 counts out
Try this:
Slow your breathing down and start breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. Four counts in, four counts out. Now imagine when you breath in that all the oxygen goes in through your nose, travels right down into the base of your lungs and your inhalation allows your rib cage to expand. When you exhale, slowly, allow all of the carbon dioxide to leave your body through your mouth, allowing your rib cage to knit back together. The technical term for this is: breathing lateral thoracic.
2. To an onlooker, pilates can look really really easy, but if you're practicing it properly, then it can be quite challenging. There are two steps to engaging your core fully.
Step One:
Pull your belly button into your spine.
Step Two:
Pull your pelvic floor up an inch, so that you can hold onto it.
The result should be a tight feeling in your abs. If you're breathing properly you should be perfectly able to engage you core, perform the movements and breath all at once.
3. Finding you Neutral Spine is the final piece of the pie for Pilates. Neutral Spine is where you have a tiny gap under your lower back (where you could fit your finger tips under your lower back). It is vital to be performing exercises with proper posture, so being aware of your N Spine is very important.
Try this:
Lie on your back, bend your knees and place your feet on the floor, shoulder width apart. Check your head is on the floor, chin is into your chest, shoulders are shrugged back and flat on the floor, your abs are engaged and you're breathing properly.
Breath in = prepare
Breath out = push your lower back flat on the floor
Breath in = release, arching your lower back
Breath out = push your lower back flat on the floor
Repeat
N Spine is half way in between those points, where you could fit your finger tips under, it's as if you're standing tall with good posture.
These three factors are a great way to train yourself to exercise properly. I think that everyone should do Pilates, it teaches you the basics of how to create posture, breathing and core contraction to improve whatever training regime you like.
Whats the difference between yoga & pilates?
Ps: Home Workouts Coming Soon...
Pilates is a pretty much full on abs session. Pilates is a mat based class that focuses on your core muscles - your abdominals.
3 Factors for Pilates Success
There are three REALLY important factors to Pilates;
1. Breathing
2. Core Contraction
3. Neutral Spine
1. Breathing is vital... thats a general statement. But it is vital for training Pilates properly. You need to slow your breathing down and visualise your breathing cycle.
Breath in (through your mouth) - 4 counts in
Breath out (through your mouth) - 4 counts out
Try this:
Slow your breathing down and start breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. Four counts in, four counts out. Now imagine when you breath in that all the oxygen goes in through your nose, travels right down into the base of your lungs and your inhalation allows your rib cage to expand. When you exhale, slowly, allow all of the carbon dioxide to leave your body through your mouth, allowing your rib cage to knit back together. The technical term for this is: breathing lateral thoracic.
2. To an onlooker, pilates can look really really easy, but if you're practicing it properly, then it can be quite challenging. There are two steps to engaging your core fully.
Step One:
Pull your belly button into your spine.
Step Two:
Pull your pelvic floor up an inch, so that you can hold onto it.
The result should be a tight feeling in your abs. If you're breathing properly you should be perfectly able to engage you core, perform the movements and breath all at once.
3. Finding you Neutral Spine is the final piece of the pie for Pilates. Neutral Spine is where you have a tiny gap under your lower back (where you could fit your finger tips under your lower back). It is vital to be performing exercises with proper posture, so being aware of your N Spine is very important.
Try this:
Lie on your back, bend your knees and place your feet on the floor, shoulder width apart. Check your head is on the floor, chin is into your chest, shoulders are shrugged back and flat on the floor, your abs are engaged and you're breathing properly.
Breath in = prepare
Breath out = push your lower back flat on the floor
Breath in = release, arching your lower back
Breath out = push your lower back flat on the floor
Repeat
N Spine is half way in between those points, where you could fit your finger tips under, it's as if you're standing tall with good posture.
These three factors are a great way to train yourself to exercise properly. I think that everyone should do Pilates, it teaches you the basics of how to create posture, breathing and core contraction to improve whatever training regime you like.
Whats the difference between yoga & pilates?
We love Yoga too :)
Ps: Home Workouts Coming Soon...
