Pilates Video

Pilates video

Pilates is one of the best exercises there is to do. What makes it so great is the ability to do it anywhere you want. You can practice Pilates on the beach, in nature, even at work. But to be realistic, you are mostly bound to do it in the comfort of your own home (which is still great).

The only problem with at home Pilates workouts is that you can sometimes run out of exercise ideas, or you can get bored with your current Pilates regime. This is where a Pilates video or two can come in extremely handy. You can either buy a few Pilates DVDs, you can download a free online Pilates video, or you can even subscribe to an online Pilates studio where you have unlimited access to new Pilates workout videos every day. With so many options to practicing regular Pilates, there really is no excuse!

In this article, I'll look at some of the best Pilates video offerings. I'll also answer some frequently asked questions about Pilates, and Pilates fitness videos. First, let's look at the 6 main principals of Pilates, to make sure that you remember to do those things while you use your Pilates workout video:

First a brief History of Pilates

Pilates was founded by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century as a method to help rehabilitate war veterans. He used it to improve their blood circulation, to detox the body and to improve muscle control and flexibility. Today Pilates is practiced by more than 11 million people.

The very important 6 main principals of an effective Pilates workout

The following elements are the 6 basic principals of effective Pilates. It is very important that you get this right and that you strive to continuingly improve these elements during your workout, whether you use a Pilates video or not.

Breathing - It is very important to breathe deeply and correctly during yoga practice. Look for Pilates fitness videos that teach the basics of proper Pilates breathing.
Centering - Every movement you make should originate from your core area (your hip flexors, abs and lower back). Most Yoga & Pilates videos teach this principal.
Concentration - You should have an intense focus and concentration on your movements during Pilates. The daisy Fuentes Pilates game for the Wii will help you with this.
Control - You should practice proper muscle control.
Precision - Every move should be done in a moment of precision. This will come with regular Pilates practice (and a Pilates video or book will definitely help!)
Fluency and flow - This means that every movement should be done fluently after the other and the exercises should flow in a fluent matter.

Now that the basic principals of effective Pilates practice is fresh in you mind, let's look at ways you can put it into practice. In the rest of the article, I'll answer some of the most common questions about Pilates videos. We are going to look at the best free Pilates videos, some places where you can download Pilates videos and also some of the best Pilates DVDs you can buy and own. As the best things in life are free, let's begin by looking at some of the free Pilates videos online:

Where can I find a free Pilates video online?

YouTube is a great place where you can watch free Pilates videos. Here are some great ones that I have found there:

Lorie Baker's Pilates Band Routine

This is an example of a Pilates band exercise that is done with perfect fluency and precision.

How to prevent neck strain

This video from My Yoga Online shows you how to prevent neck strain.

Pilates band class

This Pilates video illustrates the importance of correct breathing and how you can also implement it.

Where can I download Pilates video(s) online?

My Yoga Online is one of the best online websites that offer quality online Pilates, Yoga and meditation videos. I am a member of My Yoga Online and love all their videos. You can purchase and download the videos, or you can subscribe monthly or yearly. They also have a free pilates video download section, from which you can download sample Pilates videos.

If you are interested in such a service, I would advise you to rather subscribe, as an month's subscription is about the same as 2-3 video purchases. But if you just need a few videos, I would recommend that you purchase it for download. Another great place to find Pilates videos online is Amazon, as they also sometimes have downloadable videos in their store.

Let's have a look at some of the best downloadable Pilates videos and also some of those Pilates video reviews/comments:

Exhale Core Fusion - Pilates Plus

This Pilates video ( click here to view a sample ) has some Yoga inspiration. It's a core conditioning exercise. Have a look at what viewers of the video thought:

"I am new to core fusion and yoga and although it is quite a challenge I absolutely LOVE IT."
"this is impossible to do!..."
"Results show up quickly ! You can feel your body defining and contouring !"

Classical Pilates Matwork

This mat Pilates video ( click here for a sample ) aims to teach you the 6 basic elements of Pilates we talked about earlier, mainly breath, concentration, control, centering and precision. Have a look at what others thought about it:

"I found this was an easy to follow but get down to business doing of pilates..."
"Great Video!"

Yogalates For Long Lean Legs (One of those yoga Pilates videos)

This video infuses Yoga with Pilates to strengthen and lengthen your body and to give you lean, long legs. Here is what other think of it:

"I like the content, except that it is almost identical to the other yogalates video..."
"Some of the moves are more challenging for a beginner..."
"Excellent for both core and loosening...."

Short Pilates Class

This video is a perfect Pilates video for when you are short on time. It strengthens your body as you exercise. Lets look what the other viewers think:

"Worth every minute! Great for the abs..."
"Great practice for a busy life..."

Which is the the best home Pilates video?

Amazon has some of the best Pilates videos/DVDs you can buy that will be delivered straight to you. Here are some of their best Pilates videos together with some user reviews:

The Denise Austin Pilates video

The Denise Austin Pilates video (click here for more info) is a great video if you are a beginner to Pilates. The exercises are managable for all levels of skill. It also includes a great 20 minutes introduction to Pilates.

Stamina Aero Pilates Lower Body Workout Series DVD

This Pilates reformer video (click here for more information) is a 30 minute workout video that is best used with a Pilates reformer. The video aims to work your whole lower body, including your thighs, buttocks, stomach, legs, lower back, and abdominals. Have a look what others thought about the video:

"I am glad I purchased this dvd along with the Upper Body DVD..."
"I was very disapointed in this DVD...."
"..love this DVD and workout to it often..."

Stamina Aero Pilates Upper Body Workout Series DVD

This is another one of the Pilates reformer videos [(click here for more information)] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E3EXAQ?ie=UTF8&tag=lesgeyoma-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000E3EXAQ) also a 30 minute video for your upper body to be used with your reformer Pilates machine. Here are some of the comments:

"Marjolein Brugman is an excellent instructor..."
"This workout by Stamina is a short upper body. It is a little easy..."
"Wonderful addition for your areopilates library!"

Pilates Powerhouse DVD Set

This is a 3 DVD set. Here is what one fan said:

"THIS IS A REALLY GREAT PRICE FOR THE AMOUNT OF EXERCISE DVDS..."

Conclusion

Any Pilates video resource is a great investment as you are investing in your health and in your new fit and lean self. With all the different options available to practice Pilates, the only problem is knowing which one to choose and then also getting yourself to do it every day (or two).

But don't just buy Pilates equipment or other exercise equipment just to let it gather dust. Stay motivated and dedicated and make sure to make your workouts fun. That way you will stay on track!