... to my Pilates page.

Pilates (pronounced puh-LAH-teez) is a combination of yoga, stretching and calisthenics. Pilates:

•  Enhances body alignment
•  Strengthens the whole body, not just the core
•  Stretches, strengthens and relaxes your body
•  When modified, is gentle enough for pregnant women, yet challenging enough for advanced exercisers.
•  Incorporates exercises that target specific body parts, making your body strong and flexible.

Pilates improves your mental and physical well-being, increases flexibility, and strengthens muscles.  Pilates uses controlled movements in the form of mat exercises or equipment to tone and strengthen the body.  For decades, it's been the exercise of choice for dancers and gymnasts, but it was originally used to rehabilitate bedridden or immobile patients during World War I.

The exercises are gentle, the repetitions are low to moderate, and the benefits are great.  An easy and fun exercise program that builds a dancer's body and feels great while you're doing it.  It is this point that has made Pilates another  popular way to workout.

Most fans of Pilates say they stick with the program because it's diverse and interesting.  Joseph Pilates designed his program for variety - people do fewer repetitions of a number of exercises rather than lots of repetitions of only a few.  He also intended his exercises to be something people could do on their own once they've had proper instruction, cutting down the need to remain dependent on a trainer.

For more information, contact Rodney via E-mail.