Incredible postural and muscle toning/ slimming results (Pilates)

Member Name: norton501

Product:	Pilates
Date:	17/08/09 (71 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: it does work and it does alleviate postural problems and muscle tensions

Disadvantages: Easy to give up as the excercises can seem as if you are not doing a lot

I've never been that sporty or into excercise. I used to get awful grades for Sport at school, but when I started at University, I felt the need to do something as sitting at my desk for hours and carrying bags of books around over my shoulder left me with constant neck and back muscle pains and tension that rolling my shoulders around and trying to stretch myself out would not fix.

I chose pilates as I am not very flexible. I knew I would not be able to do yoga and I did not want to be bouncing around like a 1980s aerobic gym goddess doing "keep fit" and sweating and running on the spot or doing star jumps. Going to the gym was also not for me (too many people! and I would go to a gym, spend half an hour on the treadmill at a fast-walk pace, use some of the machines and not be convinced I was doing it all correctly then go home disillusioned). I also found swimming didn't suit me either as I just ended up with a bad neck (breast stroke) or stopping half way across the pool and walking to the side as I am not a strong swimmer.

I had read about pilates in magazines and the next big thing as far as celebs and excercise was going and I bought a Pilates book and started slowly teaching myself the excercises from the book. Spending around 20-50 minutes each session working through the excercises. This was quite tricky at first as I would be stood reading the book and looking at the diagrams and trying to remember if I should be breathing in or out and what muscles I should be tensing, but you do get the hang of it.

I was intrigued at the "after 10 sessions you will feel different, after 20 you will look different and after 30 sessions you will be different" promise and decided to give this a go to see if it works.

It does. I have been doing pilates at home on and off for the past 10 years. I have periods where I send 30-50minutes a day doing routines of excercises which do not look or feel as if I am doing much- but the next day you can feel your muscles are aligning differently and you are standing differently. I also have months off where I am lazy and get a little more curvy then go back to the pilates. It seems to be a failsafe method and it has really helped wth my tension headaches and neck and back muscle problems.

I would recommend everyone tries this. It works on the principles your brain/ mind controls your muscles and you will be working your inner muscles- ie the ones around your spine and not the ones on the outside of your tummy that will just make you bulky and you will also be relaxing your mind (not as meditatively as yoga and you do not have to go OMMM whilst you do it) . The idea is you use nothing except your own body weight (and maybe the odd belt or tennis ball) and the excercises are slow and controlled (like yoga only less crazy positions to bend into!). You are taught how to stand correctly and excercises to correct your posture and hold your tummy in all the time. You will feel yourself getting stronger without gaining bulky muscles.

Pilates is also rumoured to improve your sex life as EVERY one of the excercises works the pelvic floor muscles (so it is good after childbirth etc). It is somthing you do not have to pay to do. You do not have to pay to go to a class. You can do it in your own home once you learn the excercises. Pilates will have you stood on the spot actually tensing about 6 muscles at once and concentrating on if you ar breathing in or out without it actually looking as if you are excercising.

I can vouch for the fact for me it has incredible results and it does really really tone you up- you just have to understand you may be lying on the floor lifting your head and shoulders two inches off the ground (hardly a "sit up" ?) and you may not think you are doing anything, but you will find after doing this for a few weeks your tummy is flatter and you feel more aligned and taller ! Its very odd, but it pays off to persevere and after a while you will find you do work up quite a sweat after hardly seeming to be doing anything.

Summary: This does really work. Just take it slowly, be consistent in doing it and take your time