The Pilates Reformer - Training For Core Excellence | Fitness

By CharlesLCory
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Word Count: 455

The Pilates Reformer could easily have been an extra from a 70's horror movie. In fact I am sure I remember Vincent Price using one! In actual fact, it is a well crafted machine designed to deliver top quality and fitness workouts via Pilates.

So what does the Pilates Reformer do exactly? Perhaps the best thing to do is to explain some of the principals behind Pilates, so that you will better understand what the Reformer is trying to achieve.

Pilates itself has been designed to develop the bodies core strength, rather than just the cosmetic external appearance of the body. It pays particular attention to the abdominals and to the muscles of the back, with particular reference to the key internal muscle groups.

Pilates has developed some key principals around which the exercises have been developed. In order to understand Pilates, and thus the Pilates Reformer, you must understand these principles. So, it would make sense to discuss them first, namely centering, concentration, control, precision, breath, and flow.

When talking about centering, we are really talking about where the Pilates exercises are aimed, namely in the centre of the body, specifically in an area between the pubic bone and the lower ribs.

Concentration is as the name implies. Focusing 100% attention to the job in hand. It goes without saying that if you can do that, you can get excellent results from Pilates.

Control means undertaking the exercises in a controlled manner and not flinging yourself into them willy nilly.

Precision means carrying out the exercises exactly as outlined by the instructors without any deviation.

Joseph Pilates emphasized using a very full breath in his exercises. He advocated thinking of the lungs as a bellows to pump the air in and out of the body. Most Pilates exercises (as is common in a lot of exercise regimes) coordinate with the breath, and using the breath properly is an important part of Pilates exercise.

The flow means how you carry out the exercises. The requirement is for a smooth motion rather than any short or jerky movements.

These basic principals actually apply to many forms of exercise, although all six together are pretty unique to the performance of Pilates. They are also pretty much common sense, and if applied correctly, will help give you the maximum benefit from your workout.

Now that we have an understanding the basic principles and core strength philosophy of Pilates, we can better understand how the Pilates Reformer can help us with our Pilates workout. It has been designed to make each of the principals as easy to carry out as possible, with its fine tuned resistance and smooth operation. Used properly, the Pilates Reformer can dramatically improve your core strength, which is after all, what Pilates is all about!

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Discover how a Pilates Reformer exercise equipmnet can radically improve your core strength and fitness, through a carefully structured and principled fitness program and fitness gym equipment.

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