Pilates Exercise Machine Adds New Dimension To Your Pilates Workout

Pilates Exercise Machine Helps You
Do More Complicated Exercises

And more.

Pilates exercise machine also strengthens your limbs, improves your control and builds you long, lean muscles without bulking you up.

Seriously, have you had a chance to see any of these machines in a Pilates studio?

The first time I saw them, I cringed.

Well, they looked so....formidable at first sight and I was having the impression that they were complicated and ...."frigthening".

The truth is Pilates machines are one of the most comfortable and relaxing exercise machines around.

The machines are invented by Joseph Pilates himself to help exercisers to do the more difficult and complicated Pilates exercises.

Over time, the machines have been changed and adapted, to accommodate for changes in taste, fashion, design and also practicality.

Why Do You Need A Pilates Exercise Machine?

You may be so familiar and comfortable with the Pilates mat exercises that provide you with more than sufficient physical workout that you just wonder why you now need a Pilates exercise machine?!

Right.

You're probably correct in wondering that.

Contrary to what you believe, I believe using the machine can add a whole lot of dimensions to your Pilates workout, not to mention it can be quite fun too!

Let's see how using the machine can help in your exercise.

Enhancing Basic Movement

Machine such as the "Cadillac" has features like springs and roll-back bars in it.

Let's say you can't do a "Roll Up" on your own, the roll-back bar can help you with it and make it possible for you to complete it that would otherwise be difficult.

Not only can you complete this previously unattainable Roll Up, the springs help you to complete the movement smoothly, with articulation and control as well.

Wonderful, huh?

Strengthening Your Legs, Arms, Shoulders, Hips and Thigh Muscles

Pilates exercises done on the mat concentrate mainly on core strength that's on your abs, butts and backs.

A Pilates exercise machine, on the other hand, combines core training with strength training for your legs, arms, shoulders, hips and inner thighs.

The machine gives you full-body strength training and the beautiful thing is that it doesn't bulk you up.

Developing Control

When working on a Pilates exercise machine, you need to control your movement on the return position of an exercise.

For instance, if you're straightening your legs out against resistance like a spring, you would need to control the movement back to the starting position, with your legs bent.

When you train your body to control the movement that extends the spring and that contracts it, you train your body to have greater balance and control in general.

Shaping Your Muscles Into Long, Lean Forms

As you workout using a Pilates exercise machine, you'll notice your muscles gaining strength and tone without increasing in bulk. This is due to the springs used in the machine.

Generally, a spring's resistance increases along a continuum - as a spring stretches, it becomes tighter.

The muscle that challenges the spring is challenged along this continuum.

When you workout muscles along a continuum, it builds long, strong and supple muscles.

The Most Common Pilates Exercise Machines

Any idea what are the most popular and most used Pilates exercise machines?

No idea?

Here, I'll give you a rundown on the most popular Pilates machines.

1. The Reformer

The Reformer is probably one machine most often bought for individual use as it's one of the most versatile pieces of machines in use.

And the beauty is you can do hundreds of exercises on it.

If there's one piece of machine that you could buy, I'll say the Reformer would be the one.

The price may be a bit steep but you'll be paying for a high quality, sturdy and strong machine that helps and enhances your exercise movement, control and strength training.

2. The Wunda Chair

The Wunda Chair though simple in design, is perhaps one of the most difficult pieces of machines to use.

This is because the springs on the chair are quite thick so you need a fair amount of strength and control to do the exercises.

And most of the exercises that have been developed for the Wunda Chair require vast amount of center strength and/or upper and body strength.

The Wunda Chair is great for those who want to develop muscles of their backs and shoulders.

The chair is oriented vertically, as compared to horizontally like the Reformer.

Because of this, it allows for a different kind of conditioning as you can re-create positions that're more common in daily life (e.g. standing and sitting) and the exercises can be used for rehabilitation.

3. The Cadillac

The Cadillac is a large piece of machine designed to suit more for tall and overweight people and for people with tight muscles who cannot put their bodies into small spaces.

It's designed for exercises geared for the upper body (shoulders, arms, abs and back) with only few exercises that focus on the legs and butts.

The Cadillac is fitted with various springs to help in your strength training and in controlling your exercise movement.

It also provides structure to enable you to flip around, do a variety of pull-ups or you can even hang upside down or horizontally while doing exercises.

One uniqueness of the Cadillac is that it provides a bar structure that pivots you to have circular movement which creates entirely different exercises for you, which cannot be done on other Pilates machines.

Should You Buy A Pilates Exercise Machine?

Well, buying a piece of Pilates machine is an investment in both money and space.

But personally I think, it could be worth it.

I don't recommend buying until you've checked out the machines in a Pilates studio near your place and try them out a few times first.

When You Do Buy A Pilates Exercise Machine

When you do buy any piece of Pilates machine, I would strongly suggest that you don't attempt to use it without the guidance of a certified Pilates instructor or a good video.

I suggest you get some personal instruction first and then use a video later to help you with your home exercise workouts.

I want to stress here that learning the correct form is vital, especially on the Pilates machine, as you can easily injure yourself.

Don't like Pilates exercise machine?

Not feeling comfortable with the machine?

No problem.

See, you'd still do satisfying Pilates that tones and shapes your body plus giving you excellent fitness without using the machine.

I've toned, shaped and realigned my body just following Brooke Siler's Pilates book titled "The Pilates Body - The Ultimate At-Home Guide To Strengthening, Lengthening and Toning Your Body, Without Machines" and her all comprehensive Pilates body kit .

The combination of the book and the kit not only gives you a complete understanding of Pilates, it also provides insightful guidance on how to achieve correct exercise movements, which epitomise the essence of Pilates.

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