Benefits of Pilates Equipment
The many benefits of Pilates are proven time and time again by the sheer number of devotees who rave about the wonderful effects on their balance, posture, strength and wellbeing. But how exactly does the special Pilates equipment work to improve balance and strength? The Pilates ring works by using your own body strength to provide resistance and tension and workout core muscles. It is commonly used by placing between the thighs or lower legs and squeezing. Exercise mats are used to pad the floor surface when doing floor exercises, not all people use mats, but most will find the padded surface much more comfortable when used. Sitting or leaning on a stability ball when exercising requires your body to make hundreds of small muscular corrections to adjust for balance and posture, adding to overall strength. Many people use foam rollers to support and add resistance during their workout. Much like the stability ball, standing or balancing on foam roller or just using one under your body during a floor pose makes your body constantly correct itself which results in strengthened core muscles. Resistance bands are large stretchy bands you place between your hands or legs and use pulling motions to exercise and condition muscles. It works on the same principle as the Pilates ring, but with the opposite pulling effect, rather than squeezing. The most iconic and recognized of all Pilates’ equipment is the reformer; this is usually used in the presence of a professional practitioner and consists of a padded bench with pulleys attached. This highly effective piece of equipment works by using the body’s own natural resistance to create muscle tension in a gentle low impact way.