Pilates is gaining in popularity, from studios and instructor-taught group classes, to in-home instruction, including videos and DVDs. Pilates can help with many areas of fitness and wellness, from muscle control, breathing and fluidity, to body lengthening and flexibility. Focusing on strengthening the core, improving posture, increasing strength and aligning the spine, Pilates allows you to exercise without bulking up and gaining muscle mass. Dancers, sports enthusiasts and others have used it for decades to help prevent sports injuries and condition the body. If a sleek, toned and lengthened body is your ideal goal, then Pilates may be the best choice for you.

If you have been thinking about Pilates, you will want to decide whether to join a class, develop your own home practice, and whether to go for the mat workout or to join the exercise equipment scene.

Pilates: Workshops and Classes or In-Home Practice

In the past Pilates was only offered in studios and health resorts. Today, you can find Pilates classes in yoga studios, gyms, YMCA clubs and just about anywhere that offers exercise. The benefits of taking a class outside of the home is that you will be able to get one-on-one attention from the instructor, be able to ask questions and enjoy the social aspect of meeting others who are choosing to make this exercise practice a part of their life.

Doing Pilates workouts at home is also gaining popularity, with a wide variety of videos, books and DVDs available for instruction. At-home Pilates allows you to have a session whenever your schedule permits, try a lot of different styles and teachers, and save money on expensive gym memberships. Even when choosing to do your Pilates exercise at home, it is highly recommended that you take a class or two to familiarize yourself with the basics.

Pilates: Mat or Reformer

Pilates is taught in mainly two ways. You can choose from a mat workout or exercise equipment classes. A mat workout is perfect for home use. They are inexpensive and take up little space, and allow you to take your practice with you while traveling. Mat classes sometimes incorporate other tools into the mix, such as rollers, discs, balls and rings, or can be used alone. Pilates mats come in varying sizes to fit your body type and are thicker than most yoga mats. Most Pilates home exercise videos are made for a mat workout.

Pilates, especially in gyms and studios, can also incorporate many pieces of exercise equipment, from the Reformer and Cadillac, to the Wunda chair. While bulky exercise machines can be intimidating, there is no need to shy away from these simple pieces of equipment. Equipment exercises can be performed standing, sitting, kneeling or lying down and are thought to offer more support and resistance for core muscles.

The Reformer is the most popular piece of Pilates equipment, and can be found at any Pilates studio. With it’s system of ropes and springs on a sliding frame that provide assistance, resistance and varying exercise levels for the user, it can be the most important piece of equipment for Pilates. A Reformer can be used in a studio or bought for home use. Compact and simple, it hides away in a closet or under the bed for easy storage.

If you are looking for a revitalizing workout that sculpts the body and strengthens the core, Pilates may be your answer.