Getting Started with Pilates

One of the great things about Pilates is that it is suited
for just about everyone no matter if you are a couch potato
or a fitness buff.

Due to the fact that Pilates has gained a lot of notoriety
recently, there are many classes available.

You will probably find that many YMCAs and fitness centers
offer Pilates, mostly associated with mat work.

There are some Pilates instructors who offer private
classes. These may be purchased either separately one class
at a time or in blocks of classes.

These sessions may combine both mat and machine work. If
your health club has Pilates machines available to its
members, make sure that you receive supervision from a
qualified Pilates instructor.

As with anything, there are right and wrong ways of doing
things and Pilates is no exception.

The fact that Pilates is hot right now and classes are
springing up like mushrooms also has a downside. You may
receive inadequate instruction.

As is the case with any form of exercise, you can cause
injury to yourself if you have a certain health condition
or you do not know exactly what you are doing.

Some gyms think that just by sending their personal
trainers to a weekend-long course that they are qualified
to begin teaching Pilates. This is not true and can lead to
injury.

You want to find an instructor who has been certified by a
group that boasts of a rigorous training program. This
training program consists of several hundred hours of being
instructed in Pilates ALONE.

They have the knowledge to modify the exercises so that a
new student will not get hurt.