Instruction in the Pilates method can be quite costly. These costs are justified by instructors due to their
expensive education, the cost of equipment and also the cost of studio rentals.
Sometimes a person new to Pilates will be given individual supervision until the instructor believes that the trainee has developed enough knowledge to continue his or her training in a group or a class.
Here is another less obvious drawback to consider. While Pilates can serve to tone the transverse abdominis and rectus muscles, when it is performed to often or wrongly, it can cause an over-development in the internal and external oblique muscles of the abdomen.
This usually results in a flat stomach but sometimes a wider waist. This is because a lot of the Pilates exercises are practiced through flexion while the torso moves in a linear, forward fashion.
Exercising during pregnancy has been found to be important for preventing musculoskeletal problems and for maintaining muscle strength.
When Pilates is used in pregnancy, it has been found to have many benefits both physically and mentally.
However, many exercises during pregnancy are contra-indicated. The use of Pilates when a woman is
pregnant should first meet with the approval of her doctor. Then it should only be used if one is being guided by a qualified expert.
Legal action
In recent years, the term -Pilates- came under fire and resulted in a lawsuit. However the U.S. federal court ruled that this term was generic and was free for unrestricted use.
This has caused confusion among consumers because many people do not know what Pilates really is and what credentials they should look for in an instructor.
So, you want to learn Pilates? In case you are not quite convinced here are some benefits that you will reap by
doing Pilates workouts.
- A wholesome mind-body workout
- When you do Pilates, your mind becomes tuned in with your body. Are become acutely aware of where your body is in space, how it feels and how you will control its movement.
With Pilates you are looking for quality movements, not quantity. Proper breathing is essential and when done
properly it can be a great stress reducer.
- Gain long, lean muscles as well as flexibility
- When doing a conventional workout, you tend to build bulky, short muscles. With Pilates muscle elasticity as
well as joint mobility is improved. There is less of a chance for an injury to occur.
- Develop a strong core
- The -core- or -powerhouse- consists of deep abdominal muscles along with some of the other muscles that are
closest to the spine.
- Develop an evenly conditioned body
- With regular workouts, weak muscles will only tend to weaken and the strong muscles will get stronger. This
results in muscular imbalance which is a primary cause of chronic back pain and of injury.
With Pilates, your body’s entire musculature is evenly conditioned and balanced.
- Learn efficient patterns of motion
- The Pilates exercises concentrate on training several muscle groups at once while making smooth, continuous
movements. If you develop the proper technique, you can retrain your body to more in safer and more efficient
patterns of motion.
These are just several of the benefits that you will receive by doing Pilates exercises using proper techniques.