Pilates exercises strengthen what Joseph Pilates called the “Powerhouse”. Most people refer to it in the fitness industry as your core. The muscles that make up your powerhouse are the abs, buttocks, lower back, hips and inner thighs. When these muscles are strengthened they protect your back from potential injury and can alleviate most existing back problems. A strong powerhouse also helps to take undo load off of your joints and spine helping the body to work more efficiently. The Pilates method is also excellent for rehabbing repetitive stress injuries, shoulders, backs, knees, and hips by focusing on strengthening the deepest muscles of the body and increasing flexibility.
The 100 – This exercise is called the 100 because you do the exercise for 100 beats. It is for breathing, getting the blood flowing and strengthening your abdominals and torso.
The Roll Up – This exercise strengthens your core and stretches your hamstrings and back.
Rolling Like a Ball – This exercise will improve your balance, work and massage your back.
Double Leg Straight – These next two exercises are part of the stomach series. This exercise here works your Powerhouse to the extreme! It gets your entire core while fueling the stretch in the hamstrings.
Criss Cross – This exercise works the obliques and increases flexibility in the back, hips and torso.