Me and Pilates, So What’s The Deal?
By C. Tiemann, D.C.

I first read about Pilates in a magazine article in 1995. What caught my attention to this form of exercise was the promise of stretching, lengthening and firming muscles. To me that meant body shaping and better posture. In those days, it was difficult to find videos
and clubs that offered the exercise. I finally found a trainer and former dancer that had just moved into the area and had learned Pilates in New York. Within six weeks my body was noticeably leaner and shapelier. What amazed me the most was the muscular strength and coordination I had also developed. I was significantly stronger, yet my muscles were leaner. I found myself doing heavy work around the house, just because I could.
It also seemed that I had become acutely aware of how my body moved, what muscles I was recruiting and best of all, whether I was moving correctly to prevent injury.
I was using correct biomechanics in all my movements throughout the day.

In 1997 I was involved in a serious auto accident which resulted in damage to all the discs in my lower back and a nerve in my right leg. I looked for a physical therapist that was trained in Pilates and could not find one. While I found one that knew about Pilates, she was not as knowledgeable as the trainer I had workout with in 1995. Since I was not successful this time at finding another Pilates trainer, I ordered videos from the Physicalmind Institute which was located in New Mexico at that time (it is now in New York). With the help of books, videos and what I had learned previously, I performed the Pilates exercises. Again, the exercises did their magic and I was able to finally rehabilitate myself from the injuries.

While Pilates is a fantastic form of exercise, I do not work up a sweat and need to add cardiovascular exercises to my exercise program such as brisk walking, Tae Bo, circuit training, etc.

If you embark on an exercise program and are thinking of Pilates, this is a great choice and I highly recommend it. However, mix in another more dynamic form of cardiovascular exercise such as aerobics, kickboxing or dancing. If you have any injuries or a physical condition, seek professional advice before beginning any exercise program.
Today’s healthcare professionals are familiar with Pilates and will often prescribe it for rehabilitation of musculoskeletal conditions.

There are now many Pilates DVDs where you can learn the exercises and get a good workout. These are available at myfitness24-7.com and you can click here http://www.myfitness24-7.com/category/155411 to view these.