Skip the gym and do your pilates at home

Started by Joseph Pilates in the early 1900s, Pilates is a century-old, proven exercise that is still widely practiced today. It is a set of exercises that focuses on strengthening the core muscles and improving their flexibility. In fact, it is the Pilates workouts that have helped Joseph Pilates grow from a physically weak and sick child to a strong and healthy adult.

Pilates is known to benefit professionals far beyond the physical body. It is claimed that it can calm the mind and stabilize the emotions. This may be due to the slow movement of Pilates training routines along with controlled breathing that relieves the nervous system. In this way, you not only get stronger, but also feel better after each Pilates workout.

So is the gym the only place where you can practice Pilates?

Practicing Pilates in the gym definitely has many benefits to offer. First of all, the gym will generally provide you with a medium to professional Pilates mat where you can comfortably perform your exercises. Second, they have certified Pilates instructors who can give you professional guidance and correct it the moment you are doing it wrong. The only downside to doing it in the gym is that it is very expensive. This is primarily because membership fees will include renting the studio space, as well as hiring the Pilates instructor for your class.

But the gym is definitely not the only place where you can do your Pilates exercises. In fact, you can do it at home without compromising the quality of training too much.

Doing your Pilates training at home has its advantages. First of all, you save time and money traveling to the gym for your Pilates class. Second, you can do it at your own comfortable pace, and you won't be embarrassed if you can't execute some of the moves. Third, you can do it any time of the day when you are free and don't have to stick to a fixed class schedule. With the right routines and equipment, you too can achieve a gym-quality pilates long island workout from the comfort of your home.

So what are the right routines and equipment to keep in mind when considering doing Pilates at home?

There are many different types of Pilates workouts using different combinations of routines and equipment. The recommended exercise for Pilates at home will be Pilates mat work (also known as Pilates mat training or Pilates mat exercise). Pilates mat work is very affordable due to a lack of need for any heavy, expensive or specialized equipment (such as the reformer). All you require is just a Pilates mat, where you can get it from a local department store or online store, some loose clothing, and a Pilates DVD for guidance.

Pilates mat exercises can be easy or difficult depending on your level. There are basic routines designed for beginners and patients recovering from injuries, and there are challenging routines that advanced professionals will appreciate. Therefore, selecting a Pilates DVD of the correct level is very important. Always look for an indication of the level of difficulty on the DVD cover or look online for reviews before you buy so you don't waste your money. A good way to find out is to look up the author's or actor's name or the DVD's title on YouTube. They will typically share some basic instructional videos on YouTube for free as part of their promotional efforts. This way, you can assess whether the level of difficulty is right for you before you buy your DVD.