Yes, you! And it doesn’t matter if you haven’t exercised since your grade school P.E. class or if you already consider yourself physically active. Taking up Pilates is a surefire way to improve your current physical condition. In fact, Pilates is so effective that it is often recommended for people with injuries that prevent them from taking up any other form of exercise.

By Dexter Osorio

But what is Pilates, anyway?

Pilates was developed during World War 1 as a way to rehabilitate injured war veterans. Its developer, Joseph Pilates, believed that it is necessary for the entire body to be conditioned through proper postural alignment, balance, flowing movement, and focused breathing.

Pilates exercises consist of controlled movements done on a mat or using equipment that tones and strengthens the body. The goal is to increase strength, flexibility, endurance, balance and coordination without adding bulk to your muscles. Its key principle is focusing on the body’s “powerhouse"-the core muscles of the abs, lower back and mid-torso.

People who practice Pilates regularly swear that it has improved their posture and strength, and has made them more aware of their body. Serious athletes have also experienced gains in their performance after Pilates, since stronger core muscles translate to an overall increase in strength and athleticism.

And again, the best thing about Pilates is that it’s for everybody, with exercises that are both easy enough for couch potatoes and challenging enough for athletes.

Here are some of its advantages:

- Exercises are no- to low-impact
- Improves muscle tone without bulking up
- Improves balance and coordination
- Improves postural problems
- Makes you less prone to injury
- Complements and improves sports performance

If you do decide to take up Pilates, make sure to do it under the supervision of a qualified instructor. Pilates exercises are all about proper form, so you’ll need an instructor to spot you and keep you motivated. Once you learn the proper form, however, you can do the exercises on your own, so you can keep at it even while you’re on vacation.

Most gyms offer Pilates as one of their regular group exercises, but you can also try it out at these places:

Pilates Works
Room 209, Burgundy Place
B. Gonzales Street
Loyola Heights, Quezon City
Tel No. 0918-8331333

Vivian Zapanta Pilates Studio
Ground Floor-B, Tiffany Place,
156 L.P. Leviste St.
Salcedo Village, Makati City
Tel No. 886-7744 | Fax 886.7739
Mobile: 0917-8440945
Email: studio@vivianzapanta.com