If you are interested in Pilates, but are not sure where to start, why not consider the Stott Pilates DVD series.

This great series has full workouts, and ones which concentrate specifically on problem areas, like your core.

They are clear and easy to follow at home, and don’t require a ton of equipment to get the most of your workout.
To see a selection of top selling Stott Pilates DVDs, click here:
Stott Pilates DVDs

Pilates is becoming more and more popular with people of all ages to gain fitness. It is a great way to tone and strengthen muscles, improve posture flexibility, strengthen the spine and improve general well-being.

The Pilates Core Challenge DVD has a 60 minute running time. All you need is a Pilates mat, which is not included in the purchase, and you can enjoy the benefits of the program. The exercises on the DVD target your core muscles such as lower back, buttocks, hips and abs. Doing these exercises on a regular basis, makes your body become firmer and stronger.

Ana Caban is the instructor on the DVD. She gives easy to follow instructions to guide you through the program and teaches you how to breathe properly through the Pilates exercises.

The exercises include single leg stretches, double leg stretches, scissors, roll-ups and more. Pilates is being used as additional training by many athletes or dancers.

The DVD’s audio can be played in Spanish and English.
Pilates Core Challenge with Ana Caban

You might also like:
STOTT PILATES – Pilates Matwork DVDs

Pilates Core Challenge DVD with Ball By Dlfit

Pioneered by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century, the Pilates method (pronounced PEA-lah-tays) has become a popular form of exercise. It consists of about five hundred exercises that were designed to help the injured maintain physical fitness while recovering.

More akin to yoga than aerobics, Pilates has numerous benefits for beginners and fitness enthusiasts alike.

Ways to Do Pilates
Pilates exercises are most often performed on a mat. Unlike yoga, however, Pilates mat-work exercises are all performed in a sitting or reclining position.

The resistance is provided by gravity and your own body weight rather than weights or a machine. This allows for the building of balance and coordination by building the core muscles of your body.

There is also equipment that is designed for Pilates work. Most often used by those who want to focus on building strength, these machines provide added resistance. Equipment exercises may be used in addition to mat exercises to add variety and support.

However, the great thing about pilates, like yoga and aerobics, is that you do not need a lot of expensive equipment to get started, and you can pretty much do it anywhere.

Benefits of Pilates
Pilates is beneficial to the body in several ways. These include:

* Making us more aware of our bodies.
Pilates exercises require unity between the body and mind, and this carries over into our daily lives. Those who do Pilates tend to have better posture, and improved coordination.

* Core strength is greatly improved.
This is an added benefit of doing Pilates. The core includes the muscles deep inside the abs and back that attach to the spine or pelvis. These muscles help keep the body more stable and balanced. A strong core can help us perform better in physical activity and reduce our risk of injury. It also helps is balance, and is great for older people so they are more steady on their feet.

* Pilates are more focused on flexibility than bulking up.
Pilates help us develop muscles that are long, lean and uniform instead of short, bulky and hard. This factor also helps reduce the risk of injury, and it is good for the joints. (This is also true of yoga).

* Pilates is ideal for those who need a gentle, low-impact workout.
The Pilates method is often used in physical therapy to help build strength without requiring the patient to bear a lot of weight.

Those who suffer from arthritis and other joint problems can also do Pilates safely. (This is also true of yoga. Older people might also consider doing their exercises in water, such as in a swimming pool, in order to reduce impact on the joints even further).
* One of the key principles of Pilates is proper breathing.
This is necessary to maintain high levels of oxygen in the blood, increasing the removal of waste, and battling fatigue. The deep breathing associated with Pilates also works wonders against anxiety. (This is also true of yoga, particularly Kundalini yoga).

Pilates is great for both body and mind. Its focus on form and control can help us stay in great overall shape, and the methodical movements and breathing promote relaxation and concentration.

If you’re looking for a way to build strength safely and efficiently, Pilates is right for you.