I have helped many clients over the years with the exciting and rewarding exercise program called “Pilates”. Through this program clients have seen great improvement with their body alignment, posture, strength, flexibility and core stability.

I've also seen many people try group Pilates classes on their own only to be frustrated by its unique terminology and set of exercises.

Pilates is a low impact high result workout. It constantly uses your core muscles (abdominals, pelvic floor, transverse muscles, obliques, lats and muscles supporting the back & spine) by focusing first on your intrinsic, smaller stabilizing muscles, then building outward to the superficial, more surface muscles.

Pilates is really about “total wellness”; feeling great both mind and body. While there are many benefits to Pilates the one I'm most excited about is the feeling of better body awareness and increased energy. You literally feel lighter on your feet as your spine lengthens and your body opens.

The key to a successful Pilates program is to learn the fundamentals BEFORE you get too far involved in group classes. The problem is, if you start off with the wrong basics you will have limited results, may experience discomfort in areas that are not meant to, and even risk real injury. Not to mention, its much more difficult to re-learn correct technique once you've practiced it the wrong way. 

Here's a quick test to see if you're ready to take full advantage of your next Pilates class: are you able to demonstrate correct form (or at least know what it is) on techniques such as correct breathing, neutral spine, pelvic floor lifts, head floats, pelvic stability... etc. If not, you probably should get some individual help in understanding these crucial terms and techniques to get you back on the right track. A couple of private sessions from a certified Pilates instructor would be a great place to start.

Once you've learned the fundamentals you'll be able to pick up much more easily many of the over 300 exercises that Joseph Pilates (founder of Pilates exercises) has put together. 

I put together 6 short videos which teach the Fundementals of Pilates. You can view them free on my website: www.NadiaEllis.com.