Archive for the ‘Pilates Mat Exercises’ Category

How to Prepare for a Workout at a Pilates Fitness Studio

Saturday, October 27th, 2012

Pilates is a workout experience unlike any other. It puts your mind to ease and creates longer and leaner muscles. It is known as one of the most relaxing yet tightening exercises that will wash away your stress for the day. You will need to the right atmosphere to d your Pilates in, which is what specialized a pilates fitness studio will provide for you. You will need to prepare yourself for this energizing workout before attending a class, here are some tips in order to do that.

Wear Comfortable Clothing

Don’t wear anything too tight and constricting to your Pilate class. Tight clothes will only cause you to lose your ability to concentrate. For pants, wear something loose like pajama style pants. Your top can either be a fitted tee shirt or a tank as long as it isn’t too constricting. A track suit with sweats is also an option as long as it isn’t too snug around the stomach, since most of the Pilates training uses this area as the core of the workout experience.

Consider a Mat Work Class

The very fundamentals of a Pilates work out are included in mat work. At our Pilates fitness studio, we provide a variety of flexible schedule mat work classes to cater to your needs. Mat exercises are perfectly acceptable for newcomers and will give you the flexibility and strength that you are hoping to achieve.

Bring the Necessary Items

Prepare yourself for class by taking deep and shallow breaths. Focus on each large breath you take as it enters your lungs, and excel gradually. This will loosen you up and prepare you for stretching out your muscles. Most people enjoy bringing their own mat to class, so try to find the perfect thick mat that will be the most comfortable to you. Also bring your own water bottle so you are hydrated before you start your training.

Remember to follow these tips before you consider to take a Pilates class. If you have any questions about applying to a Pilates fitness studio, contact us, and we’ll give you a full schedule plan perfect for your needs.

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Benefits of Pilates Matwork

Thursday, July 26th, 2012

Pilates Mat Exercise - Rollover

Most people probably associate pilates with its big, fancy machines. Unfortunately, this association might also be a deterrant for many to try pilates maybe because they are nervous about trying the machines, or maybe they just don’t have easy access to the equipment.  Whichever is the case, then it will be good to know that there are many pilates exercises that can be done on a mat that are just as beneficial to your body as the pilates machines.

MedicineNet sums it up nicely by stating:

“Pilates mat work is a series of exercises that are done on the floor without Pilates machines. The attention to the flow of movement and to the core muscles is the same as when you do Pilates on the machines, and mat work is a challenging workout in its own right.”

Because exercises on the mat are not so different from those on the machines, it is still important to be appropriately trained in the movements so that you are not training your body the wrong way, and so that you don’t get hurt.  But, once you understand the fundamentals you can take your pilates mat on the go. A huge benefit is that exercises on a mat really can be done anywhere- at the gym, at home, or anywhere you are comfortable laying out your mat.

 

Pilates Mat Exercise - Open Leg Rocker

Pilates Mat Exercise - Open Leg Rocker

Pilates Matwork focuses on improving your body in ways like building core strength, flexibility, and increasing energy. Although specific exercises might focus on certain areas of the body, like abdominals, legs, hips or back, each exercise is designed so that you are also simultaneously improving whole body things like breathing, endurance, and circulation.

Mat exercises can be easily modified for any needs so it truly doesn’t matter your age, your body type, what past injuries you’ve had, or even how long it’s been since you’ve exercised- the exercises can be adapted to you.

If you are interested in learning about any of our mat pilates classes, which range from the fundamentals all the way to advanced, contact us for more information.

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