I started this group because I am interested in Health & Wellness.

Exercise is an important outlet for stress, and is can be very invigorating. We need to exercise more than we realize. Exercise is as essential to our lives as breathing. Vigorous exercise allows us to expel toxins and also to keep our body functioning properly. There is also a body-mind link. If you exersice, your mind will be aware of your body, and this is important in detecting any changes in the body. There is also a link between a healthy mind and exercise. Endorphins are released that provide energy and that can improve moods and depression. Exercise can also benefit with aging. Keeping you mobile and independent longer.

What I like about Pilates, is that it can be done by anyone. Pilates was developed to help those who were injured or bedridden to build or keep their strengh and flexibility.

After years of gymnastics, and dance, I know the benefits of stretching. Pilates uses your own body weight to build strength and uses your own body's natural movement to become more flexible through repeated exercise.

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Hi, Heidi,  thanx for the invite- I'm really glad to join this group- I really enjoy doing pilates, even though I don't do it as much as I'd like, so maybe takling about pilates will encourage me to do it more...

Julie

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Hi Heidi, thanks for the invite.

Ariel

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It is so nice to see you here! Welcome!

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You can make time for Pilates! You only need 10-20 minutes per day.

Pilates is rally great for people with injuries, this is why dancers and other athletes do it. Pilates allows you to exercise the muscles in your body that are not injured while your injured parts are healing. I will be looking into this more.

I'll be looking for photos of some of the positions to do, but it is best to take a class so that you have proper alignment while doing the poses. It's not good to do exercises incorrectly or to develop bad habits from the start.

Thanks for joining!

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I know nothing about Pilates beyond what it said in the first five minutes in the Windsor Pilates infomercials (before I get the chance to change the channel.  lol).  I am in desperate need for any form of no impact or low impact exercise I can find.

If you exersice, your mind will be aware of your body, and this is important in detecting any changes in the body.

I have always been one to exercise a lot.  I've also, however, always been fat.  Doctors were always amazed at how in touch I've always been with my body.  I thought it was just something everybody did.  Nice to find out why so many people were iimpressed... They weren't exercisers.

In short... thank you very much for the invitation.

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Thanks for the invitation Heidi. Is this anything like yoga?

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Great to see you here!

I have started to buy some Pilates resources: books. In one book that I have, the woman claimed to have a spinal problem that was irriversible. From doing Pilates, she never did become crippled.

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I think it is if you are doing the mat exercises. I was taking Pilates for dancers, and most of the exercises were ballet movements. We had to focus on our breathing and movement. Movements had specific steps. Like yoga the specific exercises are fluid, but you must break this fluidity to change positions. Yoga is more fluid, like a song, or wave.

Authentic Pilates uses machines. I like to call them contortionist machines because they do look like some kind of apparatus that could be used for torture. lol. They are for stretching and lengthening the muscles. You use the weight of your body, gravity, to pull.

I have found some pictures but need to find some more, then I will post them so that you can see.

There are many forms of Pilates out there nowadays. For example, the Pilates exercise ball. I like this one to stretch the back out and to work on my abdominals.

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Great! Please share the title of the Pilates dvd.

Nice to have you here!

You too Sarvo!

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Welcome! It really pleases me to see you here!

The flu hurts and tires the muscles. I hope that you will feel better soon!

I do not know the different Pilates methods yet (just what I summarized in the history of pilates- 'The Founder of Pilates: Joseph Pilates ' thread.

From where does the 'Windsor method' come? (If this is a joke, you'll get used to me taking things literally!)

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If you are stretching then you are already doing some pilates! That's great Mary!

Welcome to the group!

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Hi Tonica!

I meant who is hosting the video. What is the person's name.

I have heard that Pilates does reshape the body and also takes inches off.

Let us know when you finally start the dvd!

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Beau!

You can share with us in more details about your classes. Please start a thread about your mat classes!

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Of course Michelle! This group is open to everybody, but especially to my friends.

Since the new care2 format, I haven't sent out invitations. I am a bit lost. I was hoping that people would find their way to this group! Advertising welcome!

It's difficult to translate exercise virtually, but I think I am discovering ways that I can do this.

I'm also currently creating a program for myself that includes ball exercises, pilates mat, and yoga. So you will see some of that reflected here.

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 Hi, all. I'm Maria, and I've been doing pilates (mat and ball) for a couple years. I've been lazily toying with the idea of becoming a certified instructor but all the anatomy classes...

 I've been doing yoga almost my whole life and took my first pilates class accidentally- our yoga instructor got sick and the gym got the wrong kind of sub- but I love it and immediately joined a class.

 Thanks for putting the link up in the yoga group, Heidi!

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Maria! If you have been taking Pilates classes for a couple of years, then you know more than me!

I am also thinking to become certified in either/both yoga & pilates.

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 Hi, Rage!  Nobody's hopeless except my inlaws.

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I am new to this group, a friend directed me here after i complained of excess fat around my tummy. I cant seem to find any of the dvds to buy where i am. I hope someone can help.

I am happy to be here!!!

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Hi Heeba! (Salam Alaikum)

Please check the pinned thread, in particular the Ball exercises... you will find some exercises for the abdominals.

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Oh Heidi, u r so sweet!

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