Pilates Mat Exercises – What They Can Do For You

Pilates is a form of exercise that was invented by Joseph Pilates in the early part of the 20th century. You may have some knowledge of what this kind of exercise entails and maybe have a few misconceptions about how simple or complicated it might be. The fact is that the basic Pilates exercises are performed on a mat, and nothing else is required.
The main focus of Pilates Mat exercises is to target and strengthen the abdominal and lower back muscles. This is highly beneficial for men and women who wish to tone and flatten those muscles that createa the appearance of a flat stomach. Pilates exercises have been designed to strengthen these core muscles by a series of low intensity, low impact repetitions. The advantage of perfoming Pilates exercises on a Pilates Mat is that you are working independently of any supportive machine, therefore making the exercises more challenging. In fact the muscles you are trying to strengthen are used as a form of resistance much like using weights in the gym. For many the results are encouraging especially for the abdominal muscles which are notoriously difficult to tone.
The beauty of performing Pilates Mat exercises is that you do not have to rely on any other equipment but yourself and a Pilates Mat. However, Pilates mat exercises should be taught by a qualified instructor. You could purchase a video or DVD to help you follow these excercises but an instructor will monitor your movements and correct your position if you are performing an exercise incorrectly. Not only will you learn the best way to execute a movement you will be sure that an instructor will prevent you from damaging yourself in any way. So for the sake of your body’s safety it is advisable to accept proper tuition in this endeavour. You may think that the exercises look fairly simple but in fact the movements are quite intricate. If you are planning to attend a Pilates Mat class it is worthwhile checking the teaching credentials or your instructor and ensuring that he or she is fully qualified to teach.
There are many DVD’s created to demonstrate Pilates Matt exercises, quite a few are very good, and can be useful as you can take it anywhere with you whether at home or away, and is considerably cheaper than paying for a course of lessons. If you are already experienced in the practice of Pilates Mat exercises a DVD is really helpful when you want to exercise but don’t have time to attend a class. Ideally though, the best principle to adopt is to attend a class where the instructor can be on hand to demonstrate the exercises properly in front of you and correct your posture should it be needed. Your Pilates mat instructor will also be able to see the areas that you specifically wish to target and tailor your exercises to meet your needs. There is always the safety aspect to consider too. A Pilates Mat instructor will build a rapport with his pupils and understand each individuals limitations. However, all that aside, if you are a practicing Pilates Mat devotee and you have been performing these exercises for some time, carrying out your basic movements in front of a DVD is preferrable to no exercise at all. If you do choose to exercise this way be very aware of not overstretching your body or trying a new movement unsupervised. Its all a question of confidence and training.