Pilates is one of the favorite exercises that people are loving these days. The reason being this to be an amalgamation of traditional Yoga and contemporary exercises which brings a whole lot of health benefits. It works for holistic wellness by strengthening the core muscles as well as targeted areas for relief. People know about Pilates but most of us are not aware of the existence of different forms of Pilates with different roles and functions. There are as many as five types of Pilates with different benefits. To know what you need for yourself, you must know about them first.
Classical Pilates
This is the first-ever form of Pilates that started in the 1920s. Pilates exercise form got its name from the founder Joseph Pilates. This original Pilates is a combination of both apparatus and mat exercise which makes this one the most complex Pilates form than others. It exercises the muscles of the complete body thereby strengthening your muscles and the core. One who does this successfully would have a strong and flexible body.
Mat Pilates
This is the easiest form of Pilates which is why most people do this type of Pilates. All you need is a mat and no other equipment to do this exercise. Many people confuse mat Pilates with yoga as they are nearly similar and both of these are performed on mats. But there is a huge difference between Yoga and Mat Pilates that we will tell you someday.
Mat Pilates is regarded as beginner level Pilates with this being the easiest. Once you master this one, move forward to the next level and try other forms of Pilates. You must consult a professional Pilates trainer to guide you and help you start.
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Reformer Pilates
This is the second level of mat Pilates as a reformer is a type of equipment with a flat, sliding platform and an adjustable resistance bar. The exercises done in the reformer Pilates are somewhat similar to mat Pilates but the mechanics differ as they are to be done while sliding back and forth. This is an advanced form of Pilates and one should practice only with a trainer. This is a challenging exercise that should only be done under professional guidance.
Contemporary Pilates
The contemporary form of Pilates is the perfect combination of classical Pilates (which was created back in the 1920s by Joseph Pilates), physiotherapy and some contemporary additions. The best thing about this Pilates form is that it doesn’t have a set of exercises, instead, the exercises are customized as per the requirement of the person. The moves, exercises, etc. are modified according to the individual’s requirement to get the best results.
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Clinical Pilates
This one is similar to the contemporary form of Pilates as it involves different props of other types of Pilates for example- mat, exercise equipment, thera band, etc. This is said to be a subset of the above-mentioned form as it is adjusted according to the need of the person. However, this form is mainly designed for stabilizer muscles and relieve lower back pain. In this form, physiotherapy assessments are also taken care of to chart the functional diagnoses and directional preferences. Thus, this one is better for people looking for aid through exercising.
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