Pilates: Exercise you can do in the comfort of your own room!
One of the benefits of Pilates is that it allows great results with minimal travel and less bodily harm.I live in a city with businesses and constant traffic. Some days I will go out for a run and be afraid to breath in the car exhaust. Also the sidewalks have been known to do a number on knees.
With Pilates, one can get in a 30minute workout and still achieve greatness! The “powerhouse”, also known as your abdominal area, is the tool for most exercises in the use of Pilates.
Here is a link that describes some of the exercises. Breathing is important and at about 1:00 Paula describes how the abdominal muscles are used in the exercise known as the One Hundred.
There are many other Pilates exercises that range from beginner to expert levels. It is said that one will even feel taller after using the Pilates technique.
Well….not that tall….but what Pilates does is supports the spine. Space is created between each vertebra which makes you appear taller. Not as tall as our late great friend Manute Bol…but you get the idea. Spinal problems such as slipped disks can be prevented if one decides to pursue Pilates. 
I have included another link to show some exercises for the back. Notice how much they stress pulling your abdomen to the spine. This idea, as mentioned above, is the key ingredient in working Pilates exercises.
There are alternate exercises for people with existing problems in the back or knees. It is also wise to take the remedial exercises if you haven’t worked out in a while. Don’t try to jump right into the swan dive!!
The next link I have included has an example of persons with a delicate back. Follow this 20 minute workout by Mari Windsor. It’s a really convenient workout. Of course it doesn’t hurt to go to a pilates session at your gym or a studio. If you are like me, you may prefer to buy a book or a DVD for home use. Let these clips influence you to make a purchase in either direction. Invest in Pilates, invest in your fitness and health. You are worth it!
*Information used in this post can also be found in Denise Austin’s book “Pilates for every body”
