by Michele Mylan

Created on: October 17, 2008   Last Updated: October 30, 2008

How many times have our mothers told us to stand up straight, well once again Mom was right. Standing up straight is not only good for your posture, but it can make you look thinner and feel more confident also. Improving your posture can be done by exercise. If you want to benefit from exercise, yet at the same time help improve your posture, the best exercise you could do is Pilates.

Pilates was formed during the First World War with the goal to improve rehabilitation for returning veterans by a man named Joseph Pilates. Joseph Pilates advocated a few, precise movements accentuating control and form to promote recovery to injured soldiers in achieving their health by strengthening, stretching, and firming up key muscles.

Thus "The Pilates Principles" were created by Joseph Pilates to tone the entire body, they are: proper alignment, centering, concentration, control, precision, breathing, and flowing movement. In another words, this means that the Pilates exercises focus on strengthening the core of your body and in the process, uses your own body as resistance for stretching exercises that enable you to gain better flexibility, while strengthening your spine and abdomen, which in turn improves your posture, and not to mention flattens your abs and provides a total body workout also, without putting stress on your body. A strong core is important for holding your body upright.

Think of your body as a tree, and your core is the trunk. if you have a weak trunk then your tree will lean downward instead of standing tall. On the other hand, if your trunk is strong, your tree will stand tall and that's what Pilates can do for the body.

Pilates has gained great attention over the last decade due to it's popularity with celebrities, however, it also has become popular due to the fact that the exercises can be done without additional equipment, except a good mat. They can be still be performed even if one has an injury and there are variations that can also be performed by pregnant women. Pilates has a great feel good all over effect similar to yoga, as it causes you to breath deeply and that helps you feel less stress.

There are many books, with step by step instructions, as well as DVDs and videos on the market today that offer Pilates to the beginner. There are also many gyms or well being centers that offer Pilates classes. One thing to keep in mind when looking for a Pilates program to follow, be sure to use a routine that focuses on the principles of Joseph Pilates, and if you go to a class, be sure the instructor is certified. A qualified instructor should be able to use the techniques and adapt a routine to assist a student with a disability or injury that uses the same "Pilates Principles" as mentioned above, just performed slightly different.

Most Pilates exercises are meant to be done in a sequence, usually consisting of a routine that lasts 25-35 minutes or less and should be completed 3 times per week for the best results. If you would like a great posture, flatter abs, leaner legs and more, Pilates is something that is worth your further exploration.

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