Benefits of a Pilates Practice
 Pilates is beneficial for people from all walks of life. It helps condition your body without punishing it. Pilates puts no stress and no wear and tear on your ligaments and cartilage around your joints. It is a discipline that with time, patience, dedication and practice yield amazing results.
Some of the many benefits of a Pilates practice are that it:
- Builds strength without bulk
- Increases flexibility and agility
- Improves balance and stability
- Develops optimal core control
- Enhances mental clarity and focus
- Improves posture relieving chronic back and neck pain
- Increases stamina and body awareness
- Reduces tension, fatigue and stress.
In the following interview excerpt, Kathy Moran of Power Pilates in New York City makes additional points about the benefits of Pilates:
Q: Explain that: Movement heals. Pilates is known for developing core strength, so why that motto?
A: Pilates exercises build core strength, yes, but primarily Pilates improves the health of the spine. In those early years—even before I met Howard—I saw people’s health improve because of Pilates. When I was 23 I had a client with limited lung function who went to the doctor and, after Pilates, her lung function had increased 20 to 30 percent. Now I know why: The nerves that enervate the muscles and organ systems come out of your spine. Improve the health of the spine and every body system benefits. People breathe better and have improved digestion; their endocrine system and movement benefits. It’s just like Joseph Pilates said: We have the power to heal ourselves.
Q: Pilates is a trend that never goes away. Why is it so enduring?
A: People come in because Pilates will give them the flat abs, improved posture and increased flexibility that they want. But they keep coming because of the way Pilates makes them feel: I say 30 days of Pilates will change your life because it changes your spine and heals you from the inside out—from a cellular level. So people are happier because they feel better—they have more energy and are healthier. Feeling good will never go out of style!
Q: Pilates can be intimidating for some people. How can they get started?
A: Pilates is a new physical language that you have to learn. You’ll get results if you practice twice a week—just two hours a week. You can workout alone, but then there’s no one pushing you to the physical edge and that’s when change happens. To get started, just walk through the door! We greet everyone with a smile. In class, we create a collective rhythm and a sense of community. People sign up to change their body, but they make friends and receive energy from the community. Just two hours a week! It can change your life.
Beyond Physique: You can learn more about Pilates from Kathy Moran at Power Pilates.
"Patience and persistence are vital qualities in the ultimate successful accomplishment of any worthwhile endeavor." – Joseph H. Pilates
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