Monday, 15 September 2014

Make Every Workout Session Count And Improve It




If you are thinking of taking up Pilates, you should know that it is much more than a simple fitness regime designed to put your body into good shape. Invented by a German native, only to become one of the most popular fitness activities and the United States of America, Pilates is usually a group activity which you can sign up to, in order to start practicing with other interested participants. You can easily purchase all of the necessary Pilates equipment and get an online course and exercise at home, or you can head to a studio, where an instructor is going to guide you and the rest of the group through the training routines.

Will I have to purchase some additional equipment?

After a certain amount of time, you might notice that you need several pieces of equipment. These are not mandatory, in fact, they are optional, but the mere fact that they make your training experience much more enjoyable. It could easily purchase you into getting several different pieces of equipment. The most common ones you will most likely be after would be the special Pilates socks, maybe some props like hand towels, wristbands, headbands and other clothing pieces. From bigger pieces of equipment you could use in your Pilates workouts, you might want to buy a foam roller.

What are those?

Those would be specially designed supporters which have been known to provide users with relief of the muscles, if used properly. It can also be used outside of Pilates workouts and some chiropractors are gladly going to recommend it as a technique to rid your body of tenseness and quirks. In addition to that, you will also be able to purchase a half foam roller, which is a variation of the full roller you can also buy. Regardless of the size, it seems to be one of the core essentials of a workout.

Monday, 25 August 2014

Practice Yoga With Ease, With No Fear Of Losing Your Balance!


If you are a big fan of yoga, then you surely must know that the keys to mastering the art lies in perfect balance, aligned movement and mastering your body. There are many yoga workouts designed for different purposes. While some will be able to get you abs within weeks, others will contain exercises which will make it easier for you to sleep. And most of them require learning specific poses, like the half moon or the downward facing dog. While learning these poses, you are going to discover that some of them require you to be able to maintain perfect balance, else you could fall and hurt yourself. While there isn’t much you can do but practice your position, having perfect balance also depends on the surface you are standing on during your workout. To help you avoid any slips on the surface, you could buy the Non Slip Socks, Yoga Socks.

What do they look like?

These socks are much like your average, store bought one. They look practically the same. The key difference is that they have the toe compartments, meaning that each of your toes will still have enough space to move freely. The material these socks are made of is mostly purely organic, to help your feet not get sweaty during your workout. They can be found at a lot of places, ranging from sport equipment store, stores which specifically sell Pilates Exercise Equipment or even larger general stores sometimes. The important thing to keep in mind is the brand. If you are not sure about which brand you should be getting, consult the salesperson. Ask them to recommend you the most popular brand. That way, you will be sure to get a pair of good quality socks, which are certainly going to prove their worth as you go on with your yoga sessions. 

Saturday, 28 June 2014

Common Details You Might Overlook When Looking For Pilates Equipment



When not sure what kind of Pilates Equipment Melbourne to purchase, a few classes can open a lot of doors. You end up becoming familiar with the equipments, as well as the benefits of such physical activity. You can also determine which sizes or tools are more appropriate for you, especially if you plan to take these activities at home as well. All in all, if you have also practiced yoga before, you have probably noticed already that there is one major difference between these activities – Pilates students are rarely required to come with their own mats, while yoga students are rarely accepted without mats. Obviously, having your own exercise mat for Pilates gives you the opportunity to take it to the studio too, only to feel more comfortable. But then, the real reason to invest in one is different – working at home.

Pilates mats are extremely diversified. They are normally very attractive and good looking, so they come in plenty of colors, sizes, patterns and styles. It might be a good idea to educate yourself on several types of mats before purchasing one. Besides, there is just no better way to find out more about other Pilates equipment Melbourne, especially if you want to train at home. However, while most people focus on the basics when buying a Pilates mat, it is worth noting that some considerations are often overlooked and may lead to uninformed decisions.

First of all, selecting the design and color depends on nothing but your preferences. There are plenty of them out there, so there is something for everyone, regardless of how pretentious you are. Some mats are plain colored, while others come with intricate patterns. Just keep in mind that the design and color are representative for your personal style.

Other than that, special features are not to be ignored either. These features must be chosen according to your needs and preferences. For example, high quality mats can easily resist unpleasant odors and moisture. On the other hand, others are more appropriate for those who are worried about germs or bacterias, especially if they practice in public studios. Double check the exercising area as well. If it is slippery and shiny, a gripping surface is mandatory. These are only a few small things that most newbies overlook. Therefore, take your time and analyze all the potential features you might find in order to gain as much as possible from your Pilates sessions.

Last, but not least, it might be a good idea to determine how easy it is to clean the mat. Plenty of mats do not ask for too much work. However, it is highly recommended to read the instructions coming with them, only to avoid damaging them. Generally speaking, you should get a clean and wet cloth, then wipe the mat. Wash it with a regular detergent at every few weeks too. Avoid powerful soaps and detergents because they leave a lot of slippery residue, so the gripping surface will lose its effectiveness.

Friday, 23 May 2014

PILATES EQUIPMENT : TYPES AND BENEFITS


PILATES EQUIPMENT : TYPES AND BENEFITS


Pilates equipment can be grouped in two broad categories. The first category comprise of small, portable equipment like the magic circles, fitness bands, and the exercise balls. These smaller equipments can be used in a studio and at home. Then, there are the larger pieces of equipment (apparatus) that comprise equipment such as the Pilates reformer, Pilates chair, barrel, tower, and Cadillac. These are commonly found in a Pilates studio.

Balls are common pieces of Pilates equipment. The Pilates stability ball can be used for various purposes such as yoga, physical therapy, and toning and defining the abdominal muscles. Conditioning is achieved when anyone uses the ball to engage in a diversity of exercises that necessitate balance, posture, and coordination.

Resistance bands are pieces of Pilates equipment that are primarily made from latex but might have foam or plastic handles. Using these can offer a lot of the similar benefits as weight training, such as strength building and sculpting of the upper and lower body. Resistance bands also help to improve flexibility. These may be used with both standing and seated exercise.

Various exercises of the Pilates system are considered mat exercises. Although several people perform such exercises with a generic mat or with no mat at all, there are Pilates mats available. Mat exercises focus on strengthening the trunk muscles and hip muscles while increasing the flexibleness of the backbone and hips. In addition, there is additional Pilates equipment intended to be used in mat exercises, such as the arc barrel. The arc barrel is a piece of equipment that helps sustainthe back and shoulders. It has been noted as a skilledtool to use instretching activities.

The Cadillac is one of the larger pieces of Pilates equipment. It is occasionallycalled a trapeze. It is basicallya table with crossbars to which other bars and straps can be attached. This piece of equipment allows a person to dovarious types of exercises which can be mild to intense. With this machine, you can mentally isolate just aboutevery muscle in your body into littleindividual parts. In this method, you can accomplishthe correct motion patterns for different exercises benefitting variousbody parts. The Cadillac helps to strengthen the “powerhouse muscles” by targeting the deep transversospinalis muscles (the group of muscles that make up the human back). It also ‘articulate’ the spine; and your lumbar paraspinals (the group of large muscles that sustainthe spine) will be massaged and lengthened.

The Pilates Reformers is a bed-like structurewith a flat platform on it, called the carriage, which rolls back and forth on wheels inthe frame. One of the best things about the reformer is its resourcefulness. Exercises can be completedlying down, sitting, standing, pulling the straps, pushing the foot bar, perched on the foot bar, perched on the shoulder blocks, with additional equipment, upside down, sideways and all kinds of variations thereof. In other words, the reformer can train many parts and dynamics of the body in so many different ways with just piece of equipment. The reformer promotes offers all the following benefits including completestrength, flexibility, coordination, and balance. These things in turn lead to better posture, graceful, efficient movement, and for many, relief from pain relatedwith physical imbalances such as back pain. 

Tuesday, 6 May 2014

How to use Foam Rollers ?




Using foam rollers during your Pilates session can help both support and enhance your stretching positions for a more effective core workout.

There are many different ways to use foam rollers in Pilates but they are commonly used by placing them under the back, stomach, hips and knees to support and properly position your body during a pose. They are fantastic for targeting and strengthening weak or sore areas of your body to maximize the benefits of the exercises.

In order to increase the difficulty of a Pilate’s position you can place the foam rollers under your hands or feet making a slightly unstable surface which will engage more of your core muscles to hold the pose correctly. You will find that this will allow you get into shape much faster than not using them.

Pilate’s foam rollers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes to suit different types of positions. From a basic wide foam roller to special textured finishes for optimal massage and stretching. They are available in a full round or half round (flat bottomed) shape, the half round roller used for beginners or people requiring a gentler workout.

They are traditionally made of a very high density material that supports and bounces back into shape after use, quality rollers resist flattening damage for many years. You can choose the level of density to suit your comfort preference or purpose.

Try foam rollers at your next session, you will soon see the increased benefits of working with these effective pieces of Pilates equipment.