The Fastest Growing Form of Exercise

The Fastest Growing Form of Exercise

  • Submitted By: lindsthork
  • Date Submitted: 04/26/2010 3:45 PM
  • Category: Science
  • Words: 2686
  • Page: 11
  • Views: 590

Lindsay
Dance Kinesiology
Final Project
PILATES
Pilates is the fastest growing form of exercise in the world; it has numerous benefits and is commonly used for rehabilitation. Dancers swarm to this form of exercise, however with its many rewards Pilates has become popular for all athletes.
Pilates is a mind body exercise that transforms the way the body looks, feels, and performs. In 2000 the United States recorded 1.7 million people involved in the Pilates technique, by 2006 that number grew to 10.6 million making the growth rate over the past 6 years above 600% (Balanced body). Pilates is a safe, sensible exercise that is performed on a mat or the reformer (Balanced body). Persons of any age or condition are able to practice Pilates (Balanced body). Ones core strength, flexibility, agility and economy of motion are improved through Pilates (Balanced body). Pilates also helps back pain and other chronic alignments (Balanced body). Pilates has become popular in the Hollywood scene among celebrities and models because it builds strength without bulk and creates toned thighs and a flat abdomen (Balanced body). Professional dancers have known the benefits of Pilates for decades and top athletes use it for strength, flexibility, and injury prevention (Balanced body). Pilates consists of about 500 exercises, including many modifications for each exercise (Endelman). A private session hosted by a certified instructor is comparable to or more expensive than a personal training session (Endelman). However, Pilates classes with a group are much more affordable. Through Pilates the gap between functional movement and enlivened thought has been bridged (Balanced body). Pilates provides for body awareness, better posture, and more graceful movement in everyday life.
Joseph Pilates invented Pilates. Joseph, who was born in Germany went to England in 1912 where he was a self-defense instructor for detectives at Scotland Yard (Balanced body). When World War I...

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