| Fancy some pilates moves or to be a pilates | | | | search you will find classes for pilates for beginners, |
| performer? Pilates for beginners is gentle exercise for | | | | where they will gently guide you through pilates |
| everyone and great for women having had breast | | | | positions. By attending beginner pilates, you can be |
| cancer. I signed up for pilates workouts at my local | | | | sure that you will notice some of the benefits of |
| night school to begin with. All these ladies, different | | | | pilates, becoming stronger, less tired, gaining peace of |
| shapes and sizes, different ages and expectations, all | | | | mind, being fitter, more flexible, less stressed, more |
| there for different reasons. There would not have | | | | toned with better posture, balance and flexibility. |
| been a single night where I didn't end up giggling with | | | | Being fitter and healthier can help your body fight |
| one of them as we huffed and puffed our way | | | | against possible breast cancer. Your body is stronger |
| through the routine without much elegance! | | | | to protect yourself, and able to de stress easier, |
| The history of pilates workouts started with a German | | | | gaining mental clarity. Women doing pilates are often |
| man called Joseph Pilates. In world war one, Joseph | | | | more in tune with their body and like to be proactive |
| was an orderly in a hospital, helping disabled patients. | | | | with breast self exam. For women who have had |
| He assisted them with apparatus that was attached | | | | breast cancer, yoga and pilates workouts can offer a |
| to beds, for exercise and movement. He noticed that | | | | gentle way to ease back into exercise. |
| patients recovered quicker and were stronger when | | | | Pilates positions can be adapted and your instructor is |
| resistance was being used. Joseph invented exercises | | | | able to guide you with sensitivity, to do personalised |
| that toned muscle groups and encouraged better | | | | exercises to strengthen you, physically, mentally and |
| breathing, helping people to become more balanced | | | | emotionally. Its a great way to reintroduce yourself to |
| and flexible from exercises which do not put strain on | | | | exercise. |
| the body. | | | | So if you fancy yourself to be a pilates performer with |
| Age and experience are not excuses to not do pilates | | | | cool pilates moves, or in my case, not so cool moves, |
| workouts - believe me, I have tried both! And although | | | | or you would rather focus on beginner pilates classes, |
| pilates can be done on machines, pilate moves can be | | | | this can be a wonderful addition to your life. Pick up the |
| done at home without gear. When I went to beginner | | | | phone and check it out. You have nothing to lose and |
| pilates classes, I just wore a t shirt and comfortable | | | | everything to gain! |
| sweat pants. Not a tiny leotard in sight! Doing a local | | | | |