Best Pilates Classes in Cheltenham

Pilates is not a fitness fad; it is a holistic concept that will not only make you feel fitter and more flexible but will also enrich your whole life. The series of movements will change how your body looks and give you a new physical poise and greater mental strength. Pilates is a system of exercise that, when regularly practised, will improve your flexibility and strength. Sitting at a desk all day unbalances your body, causing the hip flexors (the top of your thighs) and the upper back to form themselves into a rounded position. Pilates will help to release such tensions and ease your body back into a more natural balance.

Pilates is named after its inventor, Joseph Pilates, who formulated the exercises in the 1920s. There are 34 original Pilates movements. Pilates has been around for the last eighty years but has recently drawn much media coverage. Many famous celebrities, such as Joss Stone, Paris Hilton, Janet Jackson, Madonna, and Liz Hurley, to name but a few, have given the technique their endorsement. Pilates is no longer an exclusive secret for the rich and famous. While some people become interested in Pilates for its cosmetic body-sculpting effects, others come to it through referrals by their physiotherapist or medical practitioner.

Breathing plays a significant part in Pilates, and yet, for such a natural movement, it can be hard to perfect. The main principle for beginners is that you should breathe out when making the greatest effort, using thoracic breathing, while also keeping the deep abdominal muscles slightly contracted.

The centre stems from the core muscles. The following group of muscles make up your core or centre.TA (transverse abdominal) muscles are the corset-like muscles that wrap around the centre of our body. Multifidus muscles run down the length of the spine. They link two or three vertebrae in the lumbar area. The pelvic floor is the sling muscle that runs from the front of the pelvis to the lower part of the spine. The diaphragm is the muscle that lies under the ribcage and helps us to inhale and exhale. Every exercise is controlled from the contraction of the core muscles, either from the TA muscles or from the pelvic floor. This is because these two groups of muscles help to stabilise the body as we move. Research has shown that it is not productive to use both muscles together, so when following your routine, try to activate your centre by using just one group of muscles.

Good posture is vital. Having bad posture will prevent your body from functioning efficiently, and it will also undermine your balance and coordination. The danger is that if we develop a habit of having bad posture, our body will accept it as normal and will learn to suffer any associated aches and pains. Poor posture can lead to many adverse symptoms, which include:FatigueNeck and shoulder tensionHeadachesImpaired balance and co-ordinationMuscular weaknessPoor circulationTension and stressDigestive problemsAching and painful joints