Pilates requires special equipment to make the program work. This equipment can range from the very simple, like the mat, to the very complex, like the trapeze. Without using this special equipment, you wouldn’t provide your muscles with the resistance needed to strengthen them. The resistance is what strengthens your core and this is the basis of the Pilates method.

The Reformer:

The reformer is probably one of the most popular and most widely used of equipment. It is used in a lot of Pilates studios and most of the devoted practitioners. The reformer consists of a sliding carriage, with foot bars, jump boards, and leg and arm pulleys. These special features allow for working different muscle groups at the same time, getting multiple results with the same machine.

There are two different types of reformers, spring reformers and gravity reformers. A practitioner uses the spring reformer, which uses springs for resistance, by lying on his back and pushing with his legs or pulling with his arms. The gravity reformer works on the same principal of resistance, but instead of using the springs for resistance, this machine uses the practitioner’s own body weight as resistance. The person is held diagonally is position to provide the needed resistance for the machine to work.

The Cadillac:

The second type of complex Pilates machine is the trapeze table or Cadillac. This machine looks like a cage, but without the bars. The frame has springs and straps are attached along the bars and extra bars are also used for several of these exercises. One exercise has the practitioner lying down facing the opposite direction of the strap that is going to be used. Then, he puts the strap around his leg and pulls it down, with the resistance going from thigh to calf. Another method of using this machine is for the practitioner to sit facing the strap that is being used. Then, while holding the strap in his hand, the practitioner will pull on it and lie down at the same time, then sit back up again. This technique works on the core muscles around the abdomen.

The Wunda Chair:

The Wunda Chair is a Pilates machine that looks like a bench only a little higher. It has two bars on each side of it with a strap attached to each. One of the exercises that uses this machine is to have the practitioner stand or sit on the bench or floor while pushing the bars for resistance.

The Mats:

One cheap and necessary piece of Pilates equipment for every practitioner is the simple Pilates mat. The mat exercises provide the basis for the Pilates method and there are many exercises in Pilates that use the mat. The mat exercises are usually taught in groups and focus mainly on strengthening the core, the abdominals and trunk and increasing flexibility throughout the spine and hips. While the mat is the most affordable of the equipment, it is also the most limited. The mat is there basically to protect the spine during these exercises, but it provides no resistance which is crucial to the Pilates method.

These machines or pieces of equipment are just a few of the many that are offered to the Pilates enthusiast. A practitioner could choose to use one or more of the other equipment, such as Pilates balls, rings, or barrels. These pieces of equipment are not part of the originals designed by the founder of Pilates, Joseph Pilates, but are an integral part of this method being used today. Whatever equipment you choose, the results from it will keep you feeling fit and toned.

As a belly dancer and an enthusiast of Pilates, I have always found that practising Pilates is extremely useful to develop the muscles involved in a lot of belly dance movements. After all, Pilates is used a lot by ballet dancers as part of their training, so it can surely be good for other styles of dance as well.

The core muscles (abdominals and pelvic floor muscles) are the main focus in many belly dance movements, so it is extremely important that these muscles are very strong if a belly dancer wants to perform those movements correctly, without injuring her back. A lot of Pilates movements involve strengthening the core muscles.

A popular type of Pilates exercise, which I always use as part of my belly dance training, are planks. Planks are amazing in that they strengthen the abdominals like no other exercise and also there are many different variations for planks, which allow you to progress gradually. Having strong core muscles is also extremely important to perform the famous belly dance backbends.

Also, a lot of Pilates exercises involve isolating individual muscles and becoming aware of their activity. Again, this is very helpful in bellydance training, as in belly dance isolating single body parts is very important. Bellydance movements that involve isolations are for example undulations, belly rolls, hip circles, chest lifts and more.

Another aspect of belly dance that practising Pilates can help with, is posture. I always stress during my that good posture is paramount in belly dance, in order not only for the movements to look good, but also to make the moves possible and to protect the back.

Last but not least, Pilates helps improving balance by strengthening the core muscles. The stronger your core muscles are, the easier it will be to hold your balance, which is fundamental in dance, including bellydance, for spins and travelling steps.

A good instructional DVD, which provides a fusion of movement between Pilates and belly dance, is ‘Belly dance for Beginners Fitness Fusion PILATES’ by Suhaila Salimpour. Also, there are various books and instructional DVDs available for those who wish to practice Pilates, but of course finding a good local instructor is the best option, at least if you are new to Pilates.

To summarise, if I was asked what a good type of exercise would be to help belly dancers achieve excellence, I would say that Pilates is one of the best options to choose in order to complement a belly dancer’s regular training.

Endometriosis is a medical condition in women where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus is also found elsewhere in the body, mainly in the abdominal cavity. The most common symptom associated with endometriosis is pelvic pain. The pain occurs in conjunction with the menstrual cycle. However a patient suffering from endometriosis may also experience pain at other times during her monthly cycle. This pain can range from mild and tolerable to severe and debilitating.

The pelvic pain associated with endometriosis may be felt before, during or after menstruation; during ovulation; in the bowel during menstruation; when passing urine; during or after sexual intercourse. Other associated symptoms are diarrhea or constipation (in particular in connection with menstruation), abdominal bloating (again, in connection with menstruation), heavy or irregular bleeding, fatigue and infertility.

The condition in which the endometrium, the tissue that lines the uterus, grows in locations other than the uterus, is referred to as endometriosis. The best cures for this condition are surgery, medicine, and hormone therapy. Pilates has been known to help women with this disease by strengthening abdominal and back muscles. It can help sufferers deal with the pain associated with the disease. It helps make chronic pain more manageable.

Pilates is a body conditioning system and was invented by Joseph H. Pilates over eighty years ago. Its simplicity attracts many people who want to tread the fitness path. This system of exercising consists of over 500 controlled exercises. The various benefits of Pilates are an improved posture, reduced stress, increased strength and mobility and longer and leaner muscles.

Pilates helps exercise the body thoroughly and helps in the correction of several physical weaknesses. Pilates also focuses on breathing which ultimately increases the oxygen flow all over your body. And, a strengthened body fights diseases on its own.

Pilates is very gentle set of exercises designed to build a very strong core of the stomach and back muscles. The debilitating pain associated with endometriosis often makes women stay away from physical activity as much as possible. This causes muscles to become slack and eventually weak. The patient is thus caught in a vicious cycle of pain, less movement, weak muscles and thus diminished ability to withstand pain. Pilates helps break this vicious cycle by increasing the muscle strength and thereby pain tolerance. In combination with the right treatment for endometriosis, Pilates can immensely improve the quality of life for women suffering from pain related to endometriosis.

Low back pain is one of the most common complaints from males over the age of 20. Many women also experience a number of different acute or chronic injuries to their lower back as well. Despite the multitude of recovery options available, ranging from medication to surgery, there is one method that has continued to prove successful. A prescribed core strengthening routine has relieved the average back pain sufferer of their pain while helping them prevent future injury also.

Strengthening programs designed to increase core muscle strength and endurance have been shown to effectively alleviate back injury and improve posture. In order to make my back pain go away I need to do more back exercises in the gym, right? Not so much. The real key to decreasing the stress put on one’s low back is to develop a corset that supports our body. This corset is formed by strengthening what many refer to as the core muscles; mainly the transverse abdominis, multifidus, pelvic floor muscles, and obliques. These muscles help us to breathe properly, and maintain good balance and posture throughout our daily activities.

There are some different theories out there that try to explain the best way to improve core strength. Many different exercises and props have been developed to improve all aspects of one’s core. A more recent development has been the inclusion of Pilates into an abdominal strengthening program. Pilates has been shown to successfully alleviate and increasing functional strength. Pilates emphasizes movement through the use of our core muscles, those closest to the spin. Instead of performing more reps, Pilates focuses on performing fewer, more precise movements that require concentration, control, and proper form. Due to its focus on developing the core muscles as well as postural awareness, Pilates is especially successful at alleviating back pain. By integrating the trunk, pelvis, and shoulder girdle Pilates enables you to develop a strong core.

Many physical therapists are successfully introducing some of the Pilates methods into their rehabilitation programs for patients with back pain. The most successful programs thus far have been those who creatively integrate Pilates with props, like the Swiss Ball, resistance bands, or balance disks, and with more traditional techniques. A prop such as the Swiss Ball is ideal for strengthening of muscles like those in the core because they challenge our balance which increases recruitment of the transverse abdominis.

Pilates also emphasizes proper breathing and body awareness in addition to core conditioning. Patients are able to develop their full set of core muscles that gives them functional strength to participate in their daily activities. Those who have given Pilates a try notice a greater ability to focus on their task and increased strength to take part in normal activity while maintaining good posture.

Though many of us suffer from some sort of back pain there is plenty we can do about it. For those of us who do not require surgery, Pilates offers an outstanding way to develop the muscles that support your entire body’s posture throughout the day. A Pilates strengthening program is even used as a post-surgery rehabilitation method. No matter your needs when it comes to back pain, contact your local physical therapist and ask if they have been trained in how to alleviate back pain through the use of Pilates.