Pilates is an extremely safe and effective exercise programme. It focuses on the core postural muscles which help keep the spine correctly aligned as well as working on the strength, mobility and flexibility of the whole body. As a form of meditation it will focus the mind, leaving you feeling less stressed and improving your feelings of wellbeing. Pilates works on correcting muscle imbalances and reduces the risk of back problems.

It was developed by Joseph Pilates at the beginning of the 1900’s. Joseph Pilates was born in Germany in 1880 and throughout his childhood, he was plagued by ill health. To make himself physically stronger, he took up body-building and various other sports, including gymnastics and diving. He later moved to England, but when World War I broke out he was interned on the Isle of Man. Whilst working as a hospital orderly, he came into contact with many war casualties and it was then that he started to develop his Pilates system as a way of helping them.

He believed that imbalances in the body and habitual patterns of movement cause injuries. He saw the links between weak areas of the body and overcompensation by other parts of the body, so he set about creating a programme based on re-education and realignment of the body. He moved to New York in 1926 and set up an exercise studio and Pilates soon became a favourite form of exercise for dancers and athletes.

In recent years it has become one of the most popular forms of exercise, not only improving the shape of the body and posture, but for a whole host of other health benefits too. It is recommended by doctors and back care specialists as a form of rehab following back problems as well as a way of preventing them.

Sportsmen are using this system of exercise more and more as a way of improving their core strength and balance. Pilates requires a great deal of concentration, precision, control and fluidity. It was designed to create a healthy body, a healthy mind and a healthy life. The Pilates philosophy is all about training the mind and body to work together towards the goal of overall fitness. It is all about quality, not quantity.

Josie site, http://vitalflow.tv, provides online Pilates videos and downloads, together with advice on healthy living. As well as running the website, Josie has a large portfolio of private clients and also teaches Pilates and yoga classes, drawing on 25+ years in the fitness business.

(1) Re-educate and realign your body to prevent imbalances. This is particularly useful for sportsmen, for example. If you think of a tennis player constantly hitting the ball using the same arm or a golfer always swinging from the same side.

(2) Make you more body-aware and co-ordinated. Pilates improves your proprioception skills, the way your body moves in space. Particularly useful if you are working by yourself.

(3) Create or improve space between vertebrae to minimise pressure on discs and nerves. There is no question that Pilates will prevent back problems or teach you to manage them.

(4) Improve core muscle and back strength to help support the spine and maintain good posture. Many of us have posture that is far from ideal.

(5) Strengthen all muscles so that the whole body can work together rather than one area becoming overloaded.

(6) Improve flexibility and mobility so that the body can move freely, without putting undue strain on the back.

(7) Teach you to breath correctly and fully so that plenty of oxygen reaches every part of the body, especially the spine. Try observing the way in which you breathe normally and you will see how inefficient it is.

(8) Give you that feel-good factor and relax your body and mind. Pilates is a form or meditation, allowing you to forget all your troubles and draw your focus of attention to your body – at least for a little while.

(9) Improve pelvic floor tone, reducing incontinence problems. A huge problem and not just for women!

(10) Flatten abdomen. There is no other exercise that flattens the lower abdomen – believe me, I’ve tried it all.

Josie site, http://vitalflow.tv, provides online Pilates videos and downloads, together with advice on healthy living. As well as running the website, Josie has a large portfolio of private clients and also teaches Pilates and yoga classes, drawing on 25+ years in the fitness business.