There is no doubt that a Pilates exercise is one of the most effective low-impact exercise programs in existence.

Minor Muscle Groups

While aerobic exercise and traditional weight lifting exercises all the major muscle groups, Pilates workouts the minor muscles that support the major ones. By moving your body with a very small, centered reach of movement using Pilates equipment as basic as a mat, your Pilates instructor will lead you through a series of movements that will leave your muscles feeling sore and good for a day or two afterwards.

A mat is the first piece of equipment your Pilates center should be equipped with. Using the mat, you can do a dozen or so awesome Pilates movements that will keep your muscles taut and shapely.

The Stott Reformer - Builds Muscles

Joe Pilates created the first Pilates Reformer. Pilates enthusiasts love this Pilates equipment because it “reforms” or corrects, the body’s alignment. The Reformer is a reason Pilates exercisers swear by the lean, long look and feel that Pilates provides them. The Reformer mixes a cardio workout, which is great for weight loss, with the strength training workout that builds muscle mass.

Pilates DVDs

One of the best ways to make sure you get a complete workout is to use a new piece of Pilates equipment — an exercise DVD. Let a professional Pilates instructor, like Denise Austin, Ana Caban, Maggie Rhoades or Gaiam lead you through a world class workout that will leave you feeling lean and stretched tall. A DVD is a great starting point, if you are new to Pilates and don’t have any fancy Pilates equipment. DVDs range in complexity from beginning mat workouts and workouts for people that are not flexible to Reformer advanced workouts that combine Pilates and yoga to give you the added benefits of both disciplines.

Stott Pilates Toning Ball

If you enjoy Stott Pilates, get a high powered workout with a weighted toning ball. Add to the intensity of your workout and feel your core turn into a firm mass of rock hard muscle. The Stott Pilates Toning Ball DVD comes with an awesome 88 minute video. If you can make it through this video, you will achieve maximal toning results in a minimum period of time.

Pilates Equipment - Spine Corrector Barrel

If you have room for this item in you home Pilates studio, you will be astonished at the way it makes you feel. People with back problems will like the spine corrector barrel because it lifts out and stretches the individual vertebrae of the spine.

You should now realize that there are many different choices of Pilates Equipment for your household use. Find the right equipment for your usable space and you will be on your way to a long, lean toned body.

Pilates has become one of the most popular ways of exercise. There are around 9 million people in the U.S. that participate in some form of Pilates and that number is rapidly growing each year.

A report released by the U.S. Department of Labor predicts that career opportunities in the fitness market will grow faster than any other market, at least until 2012. If you’re searching for a lasting career, Pilates may be the perfect choice.

There are many facilities across the U.S that offer classes for Pilates certification. You can find studios in New York, Florida and California, as well as many other states. Pilates certification can generally be divided into two areas, mat instruction and comprehensive instruction.

Usually classes for mat instruction are held at area health clubs or fitness centers. These are generally done quite quickly over the course of a single weekend or two. Most places will charge from $100 and up for this type of Pilates training.

To achieve certification in Pilates, comprehensive training will require a lot more time, anywhere from twelve to eighteen months. During that period you will need to work around 900 hours as a teacher apprentice and have to complete basic psychology and anatomy classes.

They may also require that you’ve had at least one year of previous Pilates training and have had a number of private sessions. The tuition fees will range anywhere from $2,000 up to $4,000.

A career in Pilates can also be targeted towards specialized areas such as injuries, spinal care and osteoporosis. Teacher training is also included in the comprehensive course.

If you can’t find a facility or studio near you that provides Pilates training, there are many places online that will let you complete a home study course. These places may only require that you finish the training within a certain amount of months and will cost from $50 to several hundred.

Joseph Pilates, the man who created the Pilates group of exercises was a sickly child. He suffered from rickets, asthma and rheumatic fever. But his poor health became his inspiration. At age 14, he took the solution to his fitness problems into his own hands by engaging in exercise and body building.

Pilates emphasises the core postural muscles which provide support to the spine and keep the body balanced. It teaches proper breathing and creates awareness of the breadth.

Pilates Benefits

Pilates yields numerous health benefits, from flexibility to muscular and mental coordination, such as:

*Longer, leaner body.

* A healthier back which is stronger and more flexible.

* Improved muscle strength.

* Improved posture.

* Increased lung capacity.

*Increased joint mobility.

* Relief from back pain.

* Lowered stress levels.

Basically, the buttocks, back and abdomen are targeted to strengthen the body core so that they act as a firm support system for the spine.

Mat work, in particular, demonstrates the point that the body is the only tool needed to achieve physical fitness. There really is no need to exercise strenuously and possibly cause injury to your body. With Pilates a good work out does not need to leave you exhausted and sore. Some of the exercises can be carried out in as little as 10 minutes so it is a great time saver as well, compared to other fitness methods.

If you would like to follow a Pilates regimen it is best to consult a private instructor. They will guide you on how to properly use the equipment and demonstrate the mat work. They will be able to show you where the weakness and strength of your body lies and design a program for you accordingly. This will ensure that you will gain the full benefits of Pilates routine safely and in the fastest time.

Why not start your day with a Pilates workout and prime your body with extra energy for the day ahead? Or, end your day with the exercises to relieve tired muscles and focussed breathing to relax you, ready for a good night’s sleep.