Pilates Home Equipment Review
Pilates home equipment will be our topic for today. This information is intended for those that are just starting to use the basic tools and are not quite ready to invest in a full pilates reformer machine.
By saying “basic tools” I do not mean to imply that you cannot get one of the most amazing workouts of your life with just a mat, a pilates exercise ball, and a few videos for motivation and direction. Pilates in any form will change your body for the better, increase your overall health, and give you new energy each and every day. These are the tools that will carry you through the first couple years of pilates and create the core of a new fit person.
So what is the pilates home equipment that you absolutely cannot live without?
Your mat and pilates exercise ball are two items that we’ve previously discussed, so I’m not going to go into much detail here. Needless to say, they are the foundation to any home equipment for pilates. Review those previous posts for tips on your pilates fitness equipment basics.
In addition to those items, you will need to add pilates flex bands and a pilates magic circle. With these tools, you will be able to add some resistance into your training and see great results.
Pilates flex bands can be used to add several new movements to your routine, which will keep it interesting and effective. They can be wrapped around foot for stretching or strength exercises. Also, flex bands can be hooked overhead to simulate pull up motions and work the muscles of your back.
The pilates magic circle was developed by Joseph Pilates as a focused muscle toner. It is used to target hard to work areas like the inner and outer thighs, as well as the upper arms and chest. Since they typically measure around 15 inches in diameter, they are very light and easy to store.
The last necessary item will be pilates dvds and videos that will help keep you focused and motivated. Sometimes the hardest part is just showing up everyday to do your workout. Dvd pilates training makes it fun and makes you want to keep coming back for more.
That is all you need to complete your pilates home equipment. Let us know what your favorite exercise equipment for pilates is by leaving a comment.
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Pilates Reformer Equipment Review
Pilates reformer equipment is for those that have already created a base level of strength with pilates and are ready to intensify their workout. In this post we are just going to focus on the pilates reformer because it is a pilates exercise machine like no other. Keep in mind that reformers are a significant, but worthwhile investment in your fitness, so make sure to study up before making your final decision.
What is a pilates reformer? Excellent question, I’m glad you asked. Your pilates reformer equipment usually consists of a padded bed that smoothly glides within a wooden frame as you perform your pilates workout. Various bands, cables, and springs allow for differing resistance levels and movements as you move through your motions.
The appeal of pilates reformer equipment is two fold.
First, the reformer is a more comfortable piece of fitness equipment. It allows you to get off the floor and onto a padded surface so that you do not have to worry about the discomfort on the spine or back when performing your workout. Instead your entire focus is on each move.
Second, and perhaps most importantly, the addition of resistance while performing your pilates moves allows you to increase your level of fitness drastically. At some point in your pilates career you will experience a plateau in your fitness due to the use of only your own body weight. If you want to achieve a better pilates workout, it is necessary that resistance be added into the equation.
In addition, pilates reformer equipment allows you to add new exercise moves into your workout. This will keep your workouts from becoming boring, since they can be mixed up between floor and reformer workouts. Also, the introduction of new moves wakes the body back up and makes it work harder again.
Most fitness enthusiasts understand the need to shake up their workout from time to time. Your body will adjust quickly to an exercise, so that within a few weeks it takes much less effort to complete the same routine. You must be consistently adding new moves to your workout, so that the body stays confused and your workouts do not lessen in intensity.
That it is it for our Pilates Reformer Equipment review. Let us know your own experiences with reformer equipment for pilates by leaving a comment and stay tuned for information on the best Pilates home equipment. And as always, let us know if there is another type of pilates exercise equipment that you would like reviewed.
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Pilates Benefits
I wanted to take a step back from the pilates fitness equipment for a moment and address how important pilates can be in changing your life. A question that I often get is “Why Pilates?” There are so many other types of workouts. Strength training with weights, cardio blasts, yoga. What makes pilates so important?
My answer is that pilates provides the base for which all movement and therefore all exercise begins and improves. Pilates improves your entire bodies health and strength by utilising your natural movement.
Through the use of controlled fluid movement and breathing, pilates allows you to continuously improve your body in a safe and effective manner. By using your normal body movements for the exercise routines, your chances of injury from improper form is greatly reduced. This means you can perform pilates during all stages of life, whether young or old.
And while pilates is enough on its own, it real benefit for athletes is that it improves and balances out their other workout routines. Weights strengthen the major muscle groups, but leave your core weak, which leaves you more vulnerable to injury. Cardio attacks the legs and circulatory system, but does not tone the upper body. By adding pilates and balancing your upper bodies strength to match the lower, you will be able to run longer and pedal harder than you ever have before.
Pilates is perfect for athletes that are trying to break through any fitness platuaes. The breathing technique in pilates matches the in the nose and out the mouth required on the athletic field. By strengthening the smaller core muscles of the stomach and back, athletes are able to move faster, perform better, and reduce injury risk better then weight and sprint training alone.
With so many benefits to adding pilates into your life, we wanted to create a site that helped take your pilates to the next level through advice on the best pilates equipment. We hope the information is helpful and will have a new post coming soon on pilates home equipment.
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