Pilates exercises are exercises that are designed to help you heal, balance and strengthen your body and mind. The exercises were developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 20^th century. They were designed to help the veterans of World War 1 cope with stress. The exercises also helped the veterans to rehabilitate and restore their physical and emotional stability.

Due to their benefits, the exercises are now being practiced by almost everyone. They aim at working the core muscles in the stomach, lower back, buttocks, thighs, pelvic muscles, and spine.

• By working on the core, you are able to attain better posture, improve your balance, control air flow, and improve your concentration.
• Core Pilates exercises don’t consist of traditional abdominal exercises. Instead of this, the exercises that focus on the abdomen are the same as those used in yoga. Here you hold a single pose or movement in order to attain the fitness that you want.

• Pilates is grouped into two broad groups: Mat and Equipment Pilates. Mat Pilates consist of exercises that are done on the floor. To increase the challenge, these exercises are done with small pieces of equipment such as disks, elastic bands, large exercise balls, foam rollers, and small weighted balls.
• Some of the great mat Pilates that you can engage in are: the hundred, roll up, roll over, one leg circle, single leg stretch, rolling like a ball, and double leg stretch.
• Equipment Pilates consist of exercises that can only be done using a reformer. The reformer contains a strap system and a foot bar that allows you to train your upper and lower body. Other pieces of equipment that you can use are: Wunda Chair, Pedi-pole, Guillotine Tower, and Cadillac.
• These pieces of equipment provide the support that is required to strengthen the lower back and abdominal muscles. The equipment also allows you to exercise your legs, shoulders, hip joints and arms.
• There are many equipment exercises that you can engage in. Although, there are many exercises that you can engage in, you should be cautious when engaging in the exercises if you have lower back problems.
• You need to note that everybody is different from the other; therefore, the time it takes you to see results depends on you. There are some people who start seeing results when they engage in a few exercises while others take weeks or even months before they see results.
• For ideal results you should get the guidance of a professional who will show you the best way of doing the exercises. When you practice under the guidance of a professional you will not only have ideal results, but also avoid injuries.
• In addition to practicing under the guidance of a professional, you also need to ensure that you practice regularly. It’s recommended that you practice every day if you want to have ideal results. In case you are injured during the exercises you should take some time off so that you can heal.

Pilates experts recommend that you should not engage in the exercises if you are injured. This is because doing so will worsen the condition which will be devastating on your side.