Pilates strengthens the body in slow and controlled movements while encouraging gentle toning. Pilates is known for ushering in the benefits of relaxation through breathing techniques and proper body alignment. This connects the mother to the child in an intrinsic natural manner. The core, or the “powerhouse” of the body, includes the abdomen, the back, and the floor muscles (which include the Kegel muscles). These areas during pregnancy will be under the most stress during the delivery, and Pilates taps into the strength potential within the body. Pilates alleviates some of the pain of childbirth, by training the body to use its core strength effectively and safely. Not to mention it is a great way to reintroduce exercise into a new mom’s schedule and allows for an excellent way to get back into shape after birth, without the high impact or weight resistance methods of more conventional training.

When choosing to include Pilates in your pre natal regime, be sure to consult with your physician or midwife. After permission is granted, feel free to proceed safely into pre natal Pilates, but this is a step that cannot be overlooked especially for women in their second and third trimesters. Some of the exercises may become uncomfortable, since they are performed on the back, but there are modifications that can be made as the pregnancy progresses to enable a comfortable and calming environment. Also a condition called “diastasis” may occur later in the pregnancy, which is when the abdomen separates, if this does occur extra special attention must be paid to further modification of your Pilates regime, or it may need to be discontinued until after baby is born.

Since there are many hormonal changes that occur in the women’s body during pregnancy, heightened body awareness will need to be strictly paid attention to. Some of the poses, movements, or machine work that you may have been able to perform few weeks ago will not be executed with such ease. This is simply because the body is changing and sending signals to the areas of the body that need to be treated with care. Also, ligaments and tendons become more pliable as the pregnancy progresses to prepare the body for birth. Since deep stretching is a building block of Pilates training one must be sure not to stretch too much and keep their safety, as well as the baby’s, forefront in their physical training agenda.

The benefits of Pilates during pregnancy are numerous, it will increase the circulatory blood flow to the body, which is imperative to the healthy development of your child, it will make delivery and recovery easier, and it will connect the mind to the body. The most important part of pregnancy is staying healthy, Pilates creates that healthy environment for you to relax and enjoy the beautiful evolution of woman to mother.

Anyone who wishes to create a long and lean physique, with minimal weigh-bearing work, can succeed at Pilates. While some workouts require a certain level of fitness, or exercise knowledge Pilates has a tiered system in which everyone can benefit from.

Rarely in this day and age can you say that age doesn’t matter- however, with Pilates age really doesn’t matter. A new student should feel confident to take part in their own Pilates exercise regime no matter what their age or expertise. No gender limitations or experience qualifications exist within its program. Non-existing barriers should assuage hesitation and instill a confidence in a student’s readiness to begin Pilates.

Conscious control of the body and the ability to center your self is the only requirement for which clients need to commit themselves.  If establishing goals for reaching heightened body awareness, while incorporating fluidity of motion into everyday life, is of interest to you then no other know-how is needed.

The age range for Pilates clients is vast, as it is normal to see a teenager working next to a 70-year old in any given group class environment. This acts as a testament itself to the accessibility of any Pilates program.

Wherever a student may fall in the spectrum of proficiency, classes are available for their level. Beginner, intermediate and advanced classes make it easy to establish starting points and to chart progress. It is recommended that “first-timers” schedule a private session with a trained professional before beginning any class, especially if you feel you may need more personalized attention.

As long as a new student is free of injury, they can begin with or without equipment. However,  “Mat-Pilates” is considered one of the best classes for beginners. Mat based workouts allow you to become familiar with basic body positioning, breathing patterns and alignment. All of which are the integral makings of any Pilates program, beginning classes and beyond.

In addition to mat, group machine classes are available which incorporate the Pilates Reformer, the Chair and the Barrel, as well as Resistance bands, long boxes, and exercise balls. Once new levels of experience are achieved, the Pilates Cadillac can be introduced. The Cadillac is considered by some to be the pinnacle of Pilates progress, because its versatility provides a platform for an extremely challenging workout in the same breath as a more basic one. This sliding scale of Pilates apparatus coupled with each different class level, allows for flux in each client’s skill development and pace.

If you do suffer from injury there are great benefits to gain from Pilates! All of the equipment and accessories that are used find their roots firmly planted in rehabilitation techniques. Because of this, no matter how many aspects of Pilates you incorporate into your workout, you will gently and safely progress into a healthier and more-fit version of yourself. Those who suffer from back pain, ACL complications, ankle issues, sports injuries, ruptured, degenerative, herniated, or bulging disks will find that Pilates’ low-impact approach to exercise is the most effective way to heal and restore with ease and comfort.