A great way to avoid embarrassing moments at the gym and still get a high-quality daily workout is to do Pilates at home. These simple body conditioning exercises focus less on building muscle and more on building the body’s endurance, strength, and flexibility, all things that can be done right in your home! The best part is that doing Pilates at home can work for just about anyone, from the most athletic person to the person who never does any physical activity. All you need for most at home Pilates exercises is a floor and a mat to get started.
Here are a few tips to remember while doing your at home Pilates. To start it is important to wear comfortable clothing such as shorts, tights, a T-shirt or a tank-top. They are all good choices for these exercises. Also, keep in mind that most of these exercises are done without shoes. Try to stay as focused as possible while doing Pilates. This is one major advantage of doing Pilates in the privacy of your own home. Since keeping your breathing in tune with your body movement is an important part of the exercises, this can be easily accomplished without the distractions and insecurities of being in the gym or in a Pilates class. Use a Pilates DVD to guide you through the exercises. If you feel uncomfortable at any time during the routine, stop the DVD and take a break. Remember to work at your own pace. You may want to skip any routine that feels too strenuous and repeat the routines that are more comfortable for you.
Improvise the Pilates routine to your fitness needs and capabilities. If the DVD instructor is working a routine at a faster pace then you prefer, slow your routine down. If you want to focus more on flexibility then strength, tailor the routine to suit your own preference. The important thing to remember is to flow with the movements, no matter what pace you prefer to work at. To reduce the risk of muscle sprain and other minor injuries, use slow, but strong movements. Since you will not have a trainer there to direct you, it is best you do not overwork yourself.
Doing Pilates at home can be a fun and entertaining experience. Not only that, but you can do them in the morning, before bed, or both. Some people even find time to them in the middle of the day. To start your Pilates at home routine you should check out a few instructional DVDs and find which one best fits your fitness goals. Some great instructional DVDs to check out for at home Pilates are: Winsor Pilates, Stott Pilates, Pilates Beginning Mat Workout, and Pilate Mat Workout.