Pilates exercises play a major role in working the body and mind. One of the main advantages of the exercises is that you can exercise at the comfort of your home. You also don’t have to purchase expensive Pilates equipment.
If you are planning of doing the exercises at home you need to ensure that you have the basics down. Here you need to take at least one or two classes from a certified studio.
There are many exercises but there are only a few that you can do at home. Some of the best exercises that you can do at home include:
Single leg stretch: this is ideal when practiced as part of warm-up. To do the move you need to lie on your back then bend your knees towards your chest. You should then open your knees to shoulder-width while at the same time ensuring that your feet are touching.
Curling your head and shoulders off the floor, you should slide your hands to your ankles and then draw your left knee closer to your chest. For ideal results you should do this exercise 10 times. You should also ensure that your navel is always drawn to your spine throughout the exercise.
The roll-up is another great exercise that you can exercise at home. The exercise plays a major role in strengthening the core muscles and toning the abdominal area.
To perform the roll-up you need to lie on your back with your legs on the floor and your arms above your head. While inhaling, you should extend your arms towards the ceiling then gradually roll your upper body off the floor until your arms are pointing straight in front of you.
Other than these two exercises you can also do the hundred and single leg circle—both of which are simple, but very effective exercises to do at home.
For fast results, you should consider investing in basic equipment. Some of the simple pieces of equipment that you can invest in are: mats, instructional DVDs, fitness balls, and proper clothing.
The good side is that you can find all these in your local stores. If there are any pieces of equipment that you can’t find in your local store, you should consider searching online.
In addition to buying basic equipment, you should also exercise in a quiet place that is free of any distractions. One of the best places to exercise is in your bedroom. For ideal results you should ensure that your kids are not in the house.
It’s usually challenging to be consistent when practicing at home; however, you should look for ways of being motivated. One of the best ways is by watching videos of people who have been successful in the exercises. You can also look for an exercise buddy who will be your partner in your journey.
To ensure that you are on the right track you should regularly consult with a certified instructor. To avoid injuries, you should always warm-up before starting your Pilates workout.
Thank you for this Pilates warm-up and exercises. I love Pilates! Been debating on investing into some more DVDs (of course I already have the mats!) but these are great exercises to do at home when I do not have time to make it to the gym. Love it!
I love Pilates! It’s such a slow and sweet stretch, but with the right exercises, it can provide quite the work out (fast switching of the leg stretch for example). I watch online videos — the back attack and butt blaster from the Asian girl are among my favorites.
The one thing I worry about when doing any workout at home, and why I haven’t started pilates, is whether I’m holding the right form or not.
I struggle terribly with my posture, I have rounded shoulders because I hunch at work, and I fret that I will be doing myself more harm than good if I start perfecting these exercises but with the wrong form.
I must get to a class to get some pointers, then this article will come in very useful when I start at home!