I’m looking for a Pilates workout video, but there are SO many options! How do I know what’s right for me? Here are my details:
- 5’7" female, 180 lbs
- Want to tone and strengthen, but also lose weight
- Definite Pilates beginner, but I want advanced options too
- Don’t own any Pilates equipment; willing to purchase hand weights but not a mat at this time
I’m looking for a DVD with different expertise levels, as well as fat-burning options. I appreciate any suggestions!
There are a lot of the Pilates exercises that should be done with resistance equipment. You will get a lot more out of your work out if you give you give yourself something to work against. Pilates equipment does not have to be advanced or expensive.
There are some staples that you need for a more effective workout. At the very least you will need a work out mat. These mats can be found at a variety of online stores as well as your average department store. How much you should spend on the mat is up to you and your level of comfort. Each mat is a little bit different in size and thickness. Make sure you look around for the mat that is right for you.
Another piece of Pilates equipment necessary for a more aerobic work out is a set of resistance bands. These bands help provide something for your muscles to work against. Similar to weights and other fitness equipment the resistance bands make your muscles work more than just doing the exercises on your own. Resistance bands are included with many commercial Pilates work outs and are available in many the same places as mats are.
There are also some non necessary Pilates exercise equipment. This is not to say that it is not beneficial just not essential. There are Pilates rings that provide similar resistance like the resistance band only in ring form. There is also a line of Pilates clothing that allows freedom and movement that other types do not have.
Regardless of the Pilates equipment that you are considering make sure it is right for you. You will also need to follow the work out instructions provided by the manufacturer. Although Pilates is safe most of the time it is possible to injure yourself using some of the resistance equipment or machines available. It is also important to purchase things that you will use regularly.
Home Pilates Gym – Doing Pilates At Home With A Home Pilates Gym
If you enjoy the benefits and the challenging nature of Pilates but don’t want to travel to your local gym to get a fantastic workout, a home Pilates gym may be the perfect solution to your problem. With the popularity of Pilates steadily on the rise, more and more companies are offering home Pilates gyms designed to enhance your workout and increase your results. In this article, we’ll cover the basics concerning home Pilates gyms, and the reasons why getting one for your household can be a smart investment in your health.
Home gyms and foldaway fitness equipment have been around for years. But it wasn’t until recently that manufacturers started offering home Pilates gyms that were designed specifically for the purpose of enhancing your Pilates workout. Whether you are a complete beginner to Pilates or a seasoned practitioner, adding a home Pilates gym to your workout can increase the effectiveness and the results you get from your exercise routine. There are many different options available to consumers when it comes to these home-based gyms, so let’s discuss the differences between them to help you make a more informed decision when buying one.
The first and least expensive way to get started with a Pilates home gym is a simple stability ball, or exercise ball and mat. Widely recognized as the most essential element in Pilates, the exercise mat will ensure that you can get a good workout and perform all of your movements properly while being comfortable on the floor. The stability ball, or exercise ball as it is more commonly known, is the centerpiece of many beginner and intermediate Pilates exercises. If you have a tight budget or are short on space in your home, a stability ball and a mat are a great place to start.
Slightly more expensive but just as effective are the “all-in-one” type Pilates home gym apparatus. Usually incorporating a set of cables and handles for resistance as well as some type of sliding platform for movement, these Pilates gyms open up a whole new world of possibilities for exercise enthusiasts. With the addition of cables and straps meant to ramp up the level of resistance, these machines provide a more challenging workout for intermediate and advanced users. If you have been practicing Pilates for some time and feel you could use more of a challenging element in your workouts, adding one of these machines in your home is a great choice.
Getting a home Pilates gym can not only keep your workouts interesting and challenging, it can also save you valuable time and money. Although the cost for obtaining your own equipment to use at home can be substantially more than just simply taking a few Pilates classes, in the long run it will save you money. If you know your exercise routine well and can perform it at home, you will no longer have to commute to your local gym and pay for Pilates classes. The money you will save over the long term will far outweigh what you will have to spend to obtain your home Pilates gym. For Pilates enthusiasts who enjoy working out at their own pace from their own home, a home Pilates gym is a no-brainer.
Personal trainers are great if you can afford them but most normal working class people can not, that’s where Stott Pilates equipment comes in. The stars and famous athletes can afford personal trainers but what about those of us that can not? There is an answer to this dilemma. Since we know that most of the celebrities and athletes are using the Pilates form of exercise we can do the same in the convenience of our own home when we buy Pilates equipment such as that produced by Stott Pilates.
Pilates is a form of exercise that was developed in the 1980′s by a man named Joseph Pilates. He combined physical therapy along with physical fitness to perfect the Pilates regiment. Pilates is constantly being perfected by Lindsay and Moira Merrithew. Moira trained under one of Joseph Pilates apprentices while Lindsay reconstructed and modified the Pilates equipment.
Pilates helps focus on keeping a balanced body and strengthening spinal support with breathing techniques. Through instruction and the use of a Pilates exercise machine such as the Aero Pilates machine you can target core strength and create a more flexible body.
The Aero Pilates machine is a popular piece of pilates equipment that is crafted out of wood. It consists of springs, a footboard, and a pulley. The pulley is used to push or pull the carriage with body weight resisting against the equipment for optimal conditioning. The main focus of this Pilates exercise machine is on flexibility and strengthening the core.
