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Pilates DVD

Are you someone who is interested in starting a fitness routine or are you looking to add a new element to your home workouts? If so, you may want to get a Pilates DVD to use. How can you tell which one is right for you? Is Pilates itself an exercise form which is right for you? By knowing more about it in general as well as what to look for you can decide whether it is what you are looking for.

Pilates was invented by Joseph Pilates in Germany in the early 20th century. He wanted to develop a way to help injured soldiers rehabilitate themselves. Pilates combined elements of yoga with aerobic exercise to find a way to balance physical and mental health in Pilates exercise. He focused on breathing, flexibility and control, as well as range of movement and several other principals to form a revolutionary and beneficial exercise method. Pilates wanted to ensure that core body muscles, located in the abdomen, were strengthened using his method. By strengthening the core your posture is improved and back pain from weak muscles is reduced. It was a unique approach at the time and did take a while to become popular.

These days however, many people are reaping its benefits. Pilates works in two ways. Fat is burned through the use of aerobic elements. This helps improve cardiovascular health. This is one of two ways that a leaner appearance is achieved. As well, by Pilates stretching the muscles as they are strengthened they become longer. Muscles developed through Pilates do not have the bulky, bunched-up look that many bodybuilders develop. This is a shape which many people, particularly women, do not want to achieve. Pilates is a good way to become stronger and more physically fit. Practitioners of yoga may also find the mind-body connection that comes with Pilates practice to be very appealing. It can reduce stress and promote greater mental and emotional well-being.

When looking at a Pilates DVD you may see a reference to Pilates equipment to do Pilates exercise. This can mean one of a range of items. They can include smaller exercise and toning balls and resistance bands and hoops or large equipment such as a Reformer. A Reformer has several sliding elements which allow you to strengthen muscles and increase the range of joint motion. Many of the larger items can be quite pricey and hard to store, so it is a good idea to know you like Pilates before you buy them.