The Pilates Reformer - Training For Core Excellence

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.

The aim of a Pilates workout is to improve your core strength, rather than just your external appearance. It pays particular attention to the stomach muscles (abdominals) and the back muscles, which quite honestly are key to any serious workout anyway.

This definition is further broken down into the following principals that govern Pilates. Centering, Concentration, Control, Precision, Breath, and Flow. Let's examine each of these in turn. Incidentally, I should point out that these definitions were not actually stated by the creator of the Pilates system, but were rather inferred by instructors at a later stage.

Centering means focusing your concentration and efforts to the centre of the body, in an area under the rib cage and above the pubic bone. Pilates exercises are focused on this area and this is an important area to concentrate on.

Concentration simply means bringing one's full attention to the exercise and doing it with full commitment. As with any exercise, giving it your full attention will yield maximum benefit.

The control element refers to the manner in which the exercises are undertaken. Every part of your body should be in control and doing only what the exercise requires.

Precision is referring to carrying out the exercises exactly as outlined by the instructor. Any deviation from these instructions will impact on the quality of the workout and the benefit that you receive.

Correct breathing is very important to Pilates as it is to many other forms of fitness and exercise. Pilates requires you to coordinate your breath with your motion for the best effect.

When referring to flow, Pilates means that your actions should be smooth and even rather than jerky. Again, any deviation from this principal will impact on the benefit that you receive from doing the exercise.

You may well see that most of these principals are common sense. At least they certainly will be if you have ever been serious about your exercise. If you are new to exercising, and Pilates in particular, then please take the principals listed above as read and you will find that Pilates will be able to do a great deal for you.

Now having read and understood the basic principles of Pilates, you will be better placed to understand how the Pilates Reformer can work for you. The Reformer provides finely tuned resistance to assist you with the technical principals of Pilates. The principals like the breath though are still down to you! Used correctly, the Pilates Reformer will help improve your core strength, which is the overriding design of Pilates.

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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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