Pilates
Strenghtening The Body For
Heart Health

Pilates and Heart Disease Prevention

There are many different methods of exercise for health well being. Aerobics, resistance training, stretching, weight lifting,amongst others. In the Cleveland Clinic Heart Centers guidelines for exercise they say this.

"The best type of exercise for primary and secondary prevention of heart disease is aerobic exercise. Although the Pilates system is not considered to be aerobic in nature, it is an excellent adjunct to a regular aerobic program (such as walking, cycling, or swimming). In particular, its potential stress reduction features promotes long term heart health."Cleveland Clinic Heart Center

Pilates goes back to the 1920's Surprising, isn't it? It made it's debut to the fitness industry not too long ago - maybe 10 years - but it actually was invented in the 1920's. The story is that Joseph Hubertus Pilates was born in Germany, a very sickly child, repeatedly taunted by his peers for his frail looking and skinny body. His father was a world-class gymnast at that time and his mother a naturopath. And young impressionably Joseph would read their books about muscles and exercises until it dawned on him that he could make himself stronger through certain exercises.

Joseph worked in war camps tending to the injured, and making them stronger again. In the early 1920's he immigrated to the States and already had his bag of exercises, which were then referred to as "Contrology." Because Joseph and his wife had a gym that was close to dancing studios, dancers came to learn some body-mind movements that helped them endure longer dance training sessions.

The method works on the concept of a sound mind-body connection, based only on natural movements. Joseph reportedly once said that everything - all movements - must be smooth as a cat to avoid putting undue pressure on the heart and lungs.

Two Pilates methods

It is a series of approximately 500 exercises that are drawn from calisthenics, yoga, and ballet. It is performed for purposes of increasing flexibility, strength and balance and body awareness.

Two methods exist: mat-based and equipment-based.

In mat-based , the exercises are done on the floor using gravity and the body weight as resistance.The objective of this type of Pilates is to improve posture, balance and coordination.

The equipment-based on the other hand is for more serious fans of this type of exercise. There are specific kinds of equipment like the Reformer, a moving carriage that is pushed and pulled along the floor. The teaching of Pilates involves some use of free weights for resistance training for the muscles.

Pilates is for everyone, but…

The practice of Pilates is suitable for just about anyone, beginner or advanced, young or old. Although it is a low impact exercise, there are certain people, however, who are not encouraged to engage in any exercise program until their doctors say it is safe: pregnant women, people aged 40 and older, people with pre-existing muscular-skeletal injuries or disorders, people who have not exercised at all before, the overweight and obese.

Pilates is within reach to individuals who want to try an entirely different fitness program, and provided they have their doctor's approval to do so, can adopt this method of exrcise.

Some gyms now have certified Pilates trainers who offer weekly classes, and there are special centers in large cities and a growing number of small ones. While it is suitable for anyone, not everyone will enjoy it. Some do for its focus on low impact mind-body movements, while others would prefer high impact aerobic training.

Before shutting the door completely to this form of exercise, however, it would not hurt to try a class or two. Because you have not used certain muscles and you will learn new movements, your session might still turn out to be a sweaty cardiovascular one. Remember that Pilates has about 500 different exercises; the more advanced movements might open your mind!

Summarizing the benefits

The central themes that run in the Pilates methods of exercise are the mind-body connection (focus and concentration), the improvement of core muscles, and changes in the way we use our body and muscles. Benefits include better muscle tone and conditioning, improved strength and posture, more efficient respiratory, lymphatic and circulatory systems, flexibility, reduced risk of back pain, better joint mobility, and lower stress levels.

Other benefits include a more enhanced improvement of the core muscles - back, abdominal's, hips and buttocks - improved stabilization of the spine and more balanced strength on both sides of the body.