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Beneficial for people of all ages, aptitudes and fitness
levels, Pilates is a healthy alternative to high-impact, make-em-sweat
workouts. Leraine Collier, a Certified Pilates Instructor through the
Pilates Certification Center in Raleigh, N.C. will bring Pilates to this
area in October when she opens Natural Body Therapeutic Pilates in Kinston.
Around since the early 1990's, Pilates focuses on strengthening the body's
core and is safer, more sensible approach to health and wellness. This
regiment conditions the body from the inside out with a no-to low impact
sequence of movements making it the perfect exercise routine for expecting
mothers, athletes and persons suffering from chronic pain.
Along with yoga and tai chi, Pilates began to gain popularity
in the early 1990's as the baby-boom generation sought practices to strengthen
both body and mind. But in the past few years, Pilates has enjoyed a slew
of endorsements ranging from personalities like Madonna to the entire
team of the San Francisco 49ers.
Rather than focusing on one muscle group as many traditional exercise routines do, Pilates takes a whole body approach and centers around a number of principles to strengthen and align the body.
Concentration.
That all important mind-body connection. Conscious control of movement
enhances body awareness.
Control/Precision.
It's not about intensity or multiple "reps". it's more about
proper form for safe, effective results.
Centering.
A mental focus within the body calms the spirit. A particular focus on
the torso enables one to develop a strong core and allows the rest of
the body to function efficiently.
Stabilizing.
Deep, coordinated, conscious patterns of inhaling and exhaling initiate
movement and keeps one focused.
Alignment.
Proper alignment is key to good posture. Pilates makes you aware of the
position of your head and neck on the spine and pelvis, right down through
the neck and toes.
Fluidity.
This regimen consists of smooth, continuous motion rather than jarring.
Repetitions.
Pilates has a grace and elegance to it.
Integrations.
Several different muscle groups are engaged simultaneously to control
and support movement. All principles come together, making for a holistic
mindbody workout. Via these principles, Pilates changes the way in which
we use our bodies. It changes muscle recruitment patterns, correcting
common muscle imbalances, restoring good alignment and natural normal
movement. With patience as well as diligence, a Pilates student can expect
greater strength and muscle tone, better posture, a flatter stomach, a
trimmer waist, improved fl exibility, less incidences of back pain, increased
joint mobility, and a lower stress level.
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