Introduction
Over the years, people have become increasingly aware of the benefits of exercising. They are now well informed of the importance of maintaining a healthy body. This has resulted in people resorting to different forms of exercise to keep themselves fit.
For myself, I have always been a very active person from a very young age. I have participated in various sports such as netball, volleyball, badminton and canoeing. A few years back, my mother introduced me to other forms of exercise - Pilates and Yoga. Not only did I manage to burn calories, these forms of exercise have helped me feel more energetic, happy and peaceful.
Pilates
Joseph H. Pilates, the founder of the pilates exercise method, was born …show more content…
He based these on various exercise methods from around the world, among them the mind-body formats of yoga and Chinese martial arts.
Joseph Pilates believed that our physical and mental health are intertwined. He designed his exercise program around principles that support this philosophy, including concentration, precision, control, breathing, and flowing movements.
Advantages of Pilates
Pilates improves mental and physical well-being, increases flexibility, and strengthens muscles through controlled movements done as mat exercises or with equipment to tone and strengthen the body.
In addition, pilates increases circulation and helps to sculpt the body and strengthen the body 's "core" or "powerhouse" (torso). People who do pilates regularly feel they have better posture, are less prone to injury, and experience better overall health.
Disadvantages of Pilates
Hiring a Pilates instructor can be quite costly. Pilates instructors justify these costs because of their expensive education, equipment costs and rental costs for studios. Sometimes a new student of Pilates will be given individual training until the instructor believes the new student has developed the knowledge and skills to continue on his or her