A Recovered Treasure: The Pilates Method
Uncovered After 80 Years of Dormancy, Pilates is Far From Dead.
In a way, he's a lot like Edgar Allen Poe. The famous writer had been deceased for many years before he miraculously cracked super-stardom, his once-buried work revamped from the ashes to be relished by millions and millions of literature fans.
Well, Joseph Pilates is not Edgar Allen Poe. The German immigrant is hardly a household name in 1999, but just like Poe, some thirty-two years after his death, his lost treasures are now being discovered as genius works of art.
You've seen the countless infomercials in the middle of the night, boasting this piece of exercise equipment and that toning apparatus. They usually get a famous retired athlete like Joe Montana to endorse it and swear by it. You'll actually watch for a minute and a half before realizing that you just wasted 90 seconds of your life.
But the word is out that the Pilates Method is different. This one actually works.
That's why, if you look around, Pilates studios are cropping everywhere throughout the United States. Many health clubs are offering Pilates classes on a regular basis and more and more Pilates machines are filling household closets where those dusty sets of golf clubs used to rest.
Upon arriving in New York City from Germany, Mr. Pilates primarily created his method of fitness to benefit the dance community, as it was a success along Broadway in the 1920's. The exercises provided dancers with that much-needed agility and grace.
Now, in New York City alone, there are about 40 different studios where the Pilates Method is taught with more cropping up every day.
But the Pilates Method has not been restricted to just exercise outlets. All kinds of hospitals, clinics, and health centers are pulling in these machines to treat patients with spinal injuries, back ailments, and shoulder cuff problems, just to name a few.
The Pilates Method is essentially an exercise that combines toning and stretching, utilizing a series of rhythmic movements to achieve balance and grace. It does not have the effects of heavy free weights or Nautilus machines. The exercises you perform are very smooth and controlled and require specific movements from isolated muscle groups.
The common Pilates apparatus, called the Universal Reformer, looks almost like a magic carpet. Depending on the exercise, your body weight will rest on the padded platform, which moves along the base of the machine through a series of pulleys. The motions are performed with cables and a series of different handles, depending on what motion you're performing.
These exercises are not performed in sets, really. It is a long, continual motion that will target balance and flexibility, every bit as much as it targets strength and conditioning. You can do an exercise for nearly a half-hour, if you'd like.
What's interesting about Pilates is that there are no weights involved. No adjusting the resistance, no sliding that pin down a couple of plates. The resistance is you! When your pulling the cables in toward your chest, the weight that your pulling is simply your own body weight. And the magic carpet takes away the use of gravity during the exercise; only your specific muscles being worked is what creates any sort of movement and stability.
Aside from toning up the torso, the Pilates Method also helps you achieve healthy breathing and relaxation while vastly increasing stamina.
With the benefits seemingly unlimited, perhaps the Pilates Method is a wise choice for an alternate route if you're becoming worn out from those pounding aerobics classes or squeaky Nautilus machines. Or perhaps you're always one to jump on the latest fitness craze, and for thousands of Americans and patrons worldwide, Pilates is certainly that.
Apollo Supplements.com - http://www.apollosupplements.com - Copyright ApolloSupplements.com - MuscleMaster, Inc.
 Google News Updated : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 06:55:22 GMT Smallest planet shrinks in size - BBC News
BBC News - The smallest planet in the Solar System has become even smaller, studies by the Messenger spacecraft have shown. Data from a flyby of Mercury in January 2008 show the planet has contracted by more than one mile (1.5km) in diameter over its history. First Results From Messenger's Mercury Flyby Mercury is shrinking, NASA craft finds; a cool clue: 'lobate scarps' Publ.Date : Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:45:26 GMT McCain Battles a Nemesis, the Teleprompter - New York Times
New York Times - Mary Altaffer/AP By MARK LEIBOVICH LAS VEGAS —Senator John McCain was performing relatively smoothly as he unveiled his energy plan. McCain Campaign, in Relaunch, Seeks Tighter Message Focus McCain Campaign on Obama and Iraq Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:31:52 GMT Argentine Lower House Passes Grain Export-Tax Plan (Update3) - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Eliana Raszewski July 5 (Bloomberg) -- Argentina's lower house of congress approved the government's plan to increase taxes on exports of grains and oilseeds, risking a resumption of three months of strikes by farmers. Export Tax That Angers Farmers Advances in Argentina Argentina lawmakers approve farm export tax hike Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:41:30 GMT Hippie Arrests Draw ACLU’s Attention - New York Times
New York Times - By AP CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union said on Saturday that it would investigate the actions of federal officers who had arrested five members of the Rainbow Family in western Wyoming during the group’s annual gathering. ACLU plans to investigate Rainbow Family treatment ACLU to investigate Rainbow Family treatment Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:40:38 GMT Obama "puzzled" by Iraq comment frenzy - Reuters
Reuters - By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent ST. LOUIS (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Saturday his plan to end the Iraq war was unchanged and he was puzzled by the sharp reaction to his statement this week that he ... Obama struggles to thread needle on Iraq Obama Refines the Blame on Iraq Miscue Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 05:08:23 GMT Analysis: McCain struggles to regain footing - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - WASHINGTON (AP) - John McCain calls himself an underdog. That may be an understatement. The GOP presidential candidate trails Democrat Barack Obama in polls, organization and money while trying to succeed a deeply unpopular fellow Republican in a year ... Rural voters lean to the GOP Neither Obama nor McCain meets Energy Party standard Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 04:40:55 GMT Ore. man completes flight of fancy _ in lawn chair - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - CAMBRIDGE, Idaho (AP) - Using his trusty BB gun to help him return to Earth, a 48-year-old gas station owner flew a lawn chair rigged with helium-filled balloons more than 200 miles across the Oregon desert Saturday, landing in a field in Idaho. Video: Ore. Man Uses Balloons and a Lawn Chair to Fly Believe it or not, he's lounging on air Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 05:50:31 GMT Add RSS Feeds To My Web Pages |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... My Legs Are Already Big Enough. I Keep Hearing Working... Read More Other articles in this series looked at a number of... Read More For many thin guys around the world, gaining weight without... Read More This is a trick to be done on a leg... Read More One of the biggest difficulties facing bodybuilders is how can... Read More Other articles in this series looked at a number of... Read More Other articles in this series looked at a number of... Read More Other articles in this series looked at a number of... Read More You know you're on autopilot during your workouts when, halfway... Read More Before delving into Muscle And Fitness ? The Second Key,... Read More A dumbbell exercise program is effective with the right equipment... Read More Ab training has been done to death but it's time... Read More Becoming familiar with the muscles that make up your body... Read More Other articles in this series looked at a number of... Read More Put these pec techniques to use and develop that full,... Read More Until I started following a routine to eat, my gains... Read More Other articles in this series looked at a number of... Read More This article will discuss how to gain weight naturally muscle... Read More I have 'emerged' some subtle bodybuilding techniques that infuse rapid... Read More First off I want to mention that, for most people,... Read More The chest area is one of the easist muscle groups... Read More Many of you have expressed concerns about gaining too much... Read More The vast majority of myths about weight gain are mostly... Read More What helps make comedy also builds muscle?This is key to... Read More You might sometimes wonder whether your dedication and sacrifice will... Read More
Adsense
websites
How to Increase Your Bench Press by Doing Squats
Exercise The Right Way - Dumbbell Lunges
How to Gain Weight and Build More Muscle!
Secret Training Tip #242 - Be 10% Stronger in Leg Curls Instantly!
Add Intensity To Your Muscle Building Workout
Exercise The Right Way - The Barbell Bent-Over Row
Exercise The Right Way - The Leg Curl
Exercise The Right Way - The Upright Row
Sneak a Little Intensity into Your Workout
Muscle And Fitness -- The Third and Final Key To Successfully Achieving Your Fitness Goals
Why You Must Use The Right Dumbbells For Your Workout
Debunking the Top Ab Myths
Know Your Muscles - The Chest And Upper Back
Exercise The Right Way - Seated Pulley Rows
Complete Pec Training Tips
How To Gain Weight
Exercise The Right Way - The Leg Press
Gaining Muscle Mass
Muscle-Building Exercises and Growth-Boosters
The How To Guide for Six Pack Abs
Chest Exercises For Beginning Bodybuilders
The MYTH of Gaining Muscle Without Fat!
Weight Gain Myths
Bodybuilding Protein
Overcoming Fears And Unproductive Thinking
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Know Your Muscle Building Exercises - The Back
Every bodybuilder and weight trainer will have his or her... Read More
8 Tips To Building Your Dream Body
Just like routines, this document is not intended to be... Read More
The Dangerous Secret of Extreme Muscle Growth
You've decided to join a gym, but you're not sure... Read More
Lifting for the Love of It!
Over the last couple of years I have taken a... Read More
Balance Is Key To The Optimum Physique
As Purposeful Primitives we understand the need practice two distinct... Read More
Train for the Look You Want
So the Olympics are almost upon us. While you have... Read More
Key Elements for a Bigger Bench Press
Proper positioning on a weight bench to maximize leverageKeep the... Read More
Exercise The Right Way - The Flat Dumbbell Fly
Other articles in this series looked at a number of... Read More
Ace Abs Without Crunches, Cradles, Or Sit-ups!
I know what many of you are thinking reading the... Read More
Why You Must Choose The Right Dumbells For Maximum Results Results
Embarking on a dumbbell exercise program? Then examine two well... Read More
Water Makes Muscles More Elastic?!
Before you say, "yeah, yeah, yeah I know to drink... Read More
Clothes and Shoes and Stretching
Now that we have a trainer, our next concern is... Read More
Weight Lifting 101
WHY WEIGHT LIFTING?What's the one thing that you can do... Read More
Exercise The Right Way - The Machine Shoulder Press
Other articles in this series looked at a number of... Read More
Weight Training Terminology For Beginners
Weight training is one of the best ways to shape... Read More
The Secret to Legs with Size, Strength, and Endurance
There are countless leg workouts in magazines and books that... Read More
Exercise The Right Way - Seated Pulley Rows
Other articles in this series looked at a number of... Read More
Focus on Both Consistency and Variability in Your Workouts for the Best Results
In one of my recent articles, I spoke about the... Read More
Preliminary Isometric Tension Improves the Effectiveness of Dynamic Work by up to 20%
Are you looking for a simple and effective way to... Read More
Back Exercises For Beginning Bodybuilders
From a bodybuilder's perspective one of the most important body... Read More
Is Your Muscle Building Potential Limited By Your Genes?
It is clear that certain traits are handed down to... Read More
Enough Already! Stop Coming Up With New Weight Loss Programs...
Great weight loss techniques are completely worthless.That's a true statement... Read More
Body Building for beginners
Body building or even just showing up at a gym... Read More
Exercise The Right Way - The Leg Press
Other articles in this series looked at a number of... Read More
How These 3 Basic Elements Can Be Used To Boost Your Own Muscle Gains!
The foolish idea that 'more is better' when it comes... Read More
Muscle Building & Bodybuilding |