How Pilates Works and Celebrities Who do Them

Pilates focuses on building your core which is the center of your body (stomach/torso area). By doing so, you improve flexibility, muscle strength, and overall stability and balance. Their focus on this makes you stay aware of every muscle group instead of targeting a single group at a time. Pilates gives your entire body a great workout.

"Control" is emphasized in pilates as it helps you get the most from every move you make during the exercise. You focus on the entire body and can feel your muscles responding when you are focused.

Correct breathing is also emphasized in pilates. Breathing right during exercise is very important because it helps keep your heart rate lower and gives you the endurance to finish the whole workout.

Many of our favorite celebrities have bodies we would kill for. When researching their workouts I was not surprised to see that many of my favorites use pilates because it shows in their lean muscles.

What They Say About Pilates

• Jennifer Aniston- "I'm a Pilates person. It's great. I had a hip problem. I had a chronic back, a pinched nerve and a hip problem and it's completely solved all of it. I love it. It makes me feel like I'm taller."
• Courtney Cox- "I get so bored! I had a treadmill... I gave it to my mom. I had a Stairmaster... gone. I had a recumbent bike...I don't know where that is. So I hate exercise, except for Pilates."  
• Belinda Carlisle- "I do Pilates four or five times a week. The benefits are subtle, but it increases your flexibility and really tones you up. It also straightens your spine and improves your posture. In the past eight years, I've grown more than two and a half inches. I am 5ft 7ins and I am very pleased with that.'" 

(The above are quotes from http://www.fittforlife.com/jacksonville.personal.training.about.celebrities.html)

Because pilates has become so popular there are so many ways and techniques you can choose from when starting out. The simplest way is the basic mat and floor exercise. You buy a yoga/pilates mat and can either buy a video to workout to at home, join a gym and go to group classes, or hire your own personal pilates trainer. There is also a pilates machine now if you feel more confident working out that way.

The great thing about all of the pilates videos that are out is that a lot of them star women we look up to. Mari Winsor is pretty much the queen of pilates with many videos to choose from. Staying motivated is a huge part of being successful in any workout regime. If you decide to go the video route pick one that has someone that can be your virtual mentor for getting fit and healthy.