I’ve been interested in the workout secrets of people who appear to be in very good physical condition. It seems that many of them are sharing their success with Pilates, which is a movement based program designed to target your core muscles, breathing, posture, stability and coordination. While Pilates has been around since the early 20th century, it did not reach its full popularity until the turn of the 21st century. Now there are millions of people engaging in the activity and the numbers keep growing.
One notable Olympian who reports using Pilates as a part of her training is swimmer Dara Torres. The 45-year-old wife, mother and Olympian has reported saying, "In swimming, speed comes directly from the core, so Pilates helps immensely." Other Olympians who have reportedly used Pilates to enhance and tone their bodies were 2008 USA women’s volleyball gold medalist Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor.
Celebrity Pilates trainer, Brooke Siler, says that Pilates is popular with celebrities because of the amount of work you can get done in an hour session. You can work on flexibility, strength, mind and breathing control, all while you are burning calories. That does seem like a great way to spend an hour.
While Pilates may be a choice workout amongst celebrities and famous athletes, it’s certainly beneficial to anyone who is mentally and physically capable of performing Pilates. If you think you might want to try Pilates, be sure to seek medical advice if you have any questions regarding your physical readiness or capabilities.
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