Let’s face it. When it come to your health and being healthy, everyone knows how vital physical exercise is. Pilates is just one of those exercise systems, whether it is Winsor Pilates or  Stott  Pilates.  Pilates instructors often try to get new people accustomed to these Pilates machines early on because of their tremendous value for physical fitness.

Exercise is important to staying healthy, avoiding disease, weight loss, and even improving mental states (stress reduction). You can just focus on one of these reasons if you like because you ARE going to get the benefit of all of them. Pilates has actually been around since the easy 1930s but it really is surging now in the 21st century.

A German man, Joe Pilates, invented the exercise system that bears his name. Joe realized the importance of core postural muscles for giving support to the spine and keeping your body well balanced. From these meager beginnings, Pilates studios have sprung up all over the United States to the tune of over 11 million practitioners!

While many of Joe’s exercises can be easily done on a yoga mat, the Pilates Reformer offers a unique method of resistance that further helps stimulate and strengthen your body’s core muscle groups. Since this is about which Pilates machine might be the right one for you, let me describe a few.

Let’s start with the Mack Daddy of Pilates machines- the Stamina AeroPilates Pro XP 557 Reformer XP557. This is the epitome of style and workmanship. The Stamina AeroPilates Pro XP 557 Reformer XP557 is for the serious practitioner who wants to take his or her workouts to the ultimate level. The Pro XP557 adds an intense cardio- module to the Pilates Reformer. Because it is the cream of the crop there is eight inches added to the length so that it really can accommodate all heights. With 4 springs, each one with a greater degree of resistance, you can make those small refinements to your workout for greater effectiveness. So you can lose a great deal of weight with the cardio- AND still keep that long sleek look that Pilates is so famous for.

The Pilates Premier Reformer is the old standby and perfect for the budget conscious. This Pilates machine is great for the beginner or someone needing to watch the pocketbook. It still gives you the opportunity to acquire greater balance, more coordination, and improved posture without having to ransom the farm to purchase it. The Premier will gently release and stretch your legs, arms, neck and back, shoulders, abs, and the all important core muscles of your torso.

Rounding out my top three is the STOTT PILATES Rehab Reformer Vertical Frame Rehab Reformer. I’d put this baby right in the middle of the other two. It is essentially the Stamina AeroPilates Pro XP 557
Reformer XP557 without the added cardio- equipment. Like the other two, the Pro XP556 is a superb machine. You really can’t go wrong with any of these models of Pilates Reformer.

This Pilates machine can help define core strength through precise movements. The core essential muscle groups are worked so as to create lean muscle mass throughout the entire body. Pilates as an exercise system, is designed to take anyone, regardless of their fitness level, by using groups of exercise of low intensity, to perfect health. Not everyone wants or needs high velocity cardio workouts.

While much of the work developed by Joe Pilates can be done on a mat with no other equipment required, a Pilates Reformer is actually far more effective than any of the resistance exercises you may already be practicing with. In that the majority of Pilates are done lying on the back, the Reformer is the perfect device and is ingenious in its design. Let’s take a good look at this machine from the ground up. First we come to the:

Foot Bar- This can be adjusted to your own height and comfort level by using the notches and springs provided. Next,

The Springs themselves- These are what give you the resistance that you’re looking for and are color coded for easy usage. Next comes the main structure of the Pilates Reformer machine,

The Carriage- This is the part of the machine that “carries” your body. The foot bar, straps and springs move the carriage which in turn adds to the resistance factor. The whole machine is designed to allow you to sit, kneel, or lie on the carriage. This will show you the actual wide variety of exercises that can be introduced while using the machine.

The whole point of Pilates is to strengthen the muscles of the abdominals, lower back and pelvis amongst other muscle groups. Of course it is always suggested that you seek out an expert instructor whether you are working out with the floor exercises or with the Pilates Reformer itself.

Most people get into Stott Pilates or Winsor Pilates to lose weight, and let’s face it, this is one of the big challenges of our modern world. Many people think that technology has made our lives so sedentary that sitting in a chair would be one of the last things you would want to do when exercising for weight loss.

Mailbu Pilates Chair isn’t a seperate branch of Pilates like Stott or Winsor, it’s simply the name of this piece of equipment. Let’s get something out of the way right off. The commercial tells you that you can get started with the Malibu Pilates chair for the low price of $14.95, but this is a little deceiving. It’s actually going to cost about 350 bucks for this equipment, but you are going to get more than just a stool with a spring step. You’ll get a wall chart, a diet plan, and an hour or so long DVD supplied at that price.

While the chair is foldable, I didn’t find that it was terribly portable. It is a fairly heavy piece of exercise equipment. Home exercise equipment like this can make life easier, you don’t have to shlep down to the gym to get your workouts in. But, you do need to have the will power to be able to get in a good workout at home.

If you commit to a proper diet, stick to a good exercise program (like what comes with the Malibu Pilates chair) and make certain to get plenty of sleep (yes, believe it or not, this is crucial for rapid weight loss), you WILL see the pounds and inches melting off before your very eyes.

Of course like with all exercise equipment, results will vary from person to person. But if you have a good outlook and stick with it, you will become successful. Malibu Pilates works if you use it regularly.  Yes, it takes effort. Yes, it takes willpower. Yes, it takes stamina, but everything worth having does. The Malibu Pilates Chair has the potential to be your personal coach, dietician, and home gym all wrapped up into one nice package. So, for less than the cost of a gym membership for a year, you can get the Malibu Pilates Chair and be on your to to a slimmer and more healthy new you.

Thanks for coming to Pilates Reformer Guide

Removing all toxins from your body

Relaxes and energizes you at the same time

Brings a sharp focus to your mind

It engages all the core muscles of your abdomen, and

Controls the speed of the exercises

Pilates uses thoracic/lateral breathing, enabling you to breathe fully, but still maintain that all important core contraction to stabilize the pelvis, support the lower back and keep the neutral position.

The next important core principle is co-ordination. It may seem darned near impossible to co-ordinate your breathing with your movements at first. But as with all things-practice does indeed, make perfect. I know that some beginners courses can seem tedious and slow, but this is the very thing that allows one to slowly build, layer upon layer, the complete co-ordination of mind, breath, and body, until you can everything all at once.

Precision is the next principle in ingrain into your practice. Obviously every movement is filled with purpose and each instruction you receive is vital to your success. Precise and perfect movement is what you are trying to achieve rather than just relying on listless repetition.  It is in this way that you can develop a strong, safe, and effective practice.

Fluidity- Your body is perfectly formed for the movements Pilates teaches and every exercise in its repertoire is quite dynamic. And while some forms may hold the posture for a moment the final action certainly involves movement. Theses forms flow with your breath like a exquisitely executed dance, lengthening away from your strong center, controlled, free from tension and stress, and rhythmic.

The final principle brings us to the end of this article-

Stamina

Your deep core muscles need to be working gently, but continuously so that you can keep your body correctly aligned. In order for this to happen, they require stamina. All your supporting muscles need a huge amount of stamina so that your body can work as a whole.  Some of your muscles will tire very easily without the support of the others and with practice. That said, an exercise that seemed difficult to perform one week will soon appear relatively easy. Stay tuned for more information about the new Pilates Reformer.

The first has to be, I think by all standards, relaxation.  I know it may sound odd to think of entering any sort of exercise regimen with relaxation in mind, but it is crucial to get rid of all excess tension in your body. One of the primary benefits of Pilates exercises is how it affects any sort of muscle imbalance you may have. When you relax the muscles of your neck and shoulders, and even those of your face, it becomes much easier to release the  core strength muscles. If you are using a piece of Pilates equipment, like the Pilates Reformer, or perhaps you are working from a Pilates DVD, you always want to begin each session with a total sense of being profoundly relaxed.

The next vital principle is concentration. Once you are fully relaxed and your mind is still and the attention is fully focused, you can start working on your body. It is well known that Pilates is a profound system of mind and body exercise.  and you have to be fully present in the moment to get its best effects. You’ll want to scan the entire body with your mind, looking for places of tightness, contraction, some place that feels “stuck”, or anywhere that just doesn’t feel quite right. You want to notice exactly how your body feels and notice any tension or tightness. And then, once you start, feel how each individual movement affects you. See how the totality of the movements of each exercise works your body. This is the best way to know you are working correctly and safely.

Alignment, core, neutral position, and centering are all a apart of the same process. You’ve let go of all the unnecessary tension inside of you and relaxed your body. Now it’s time to clear your mind and focus on the body parts that you will be using to perform your Pilates exercises. Now check your alignments depending on what position you are in. If you are lying down with your feet extended, you are pretty much in a neutral state. If you are standing you’ll want to pay very close attention to your posture. Particularly look to your main weight bearing joints, your shoulders, hip, knees and ankles. This is generally where the frame tend to become unbalanced and begins to compensate.