Pilates is a group of exercises that focuses on breathing, developing and strengthening your core muscle groups, and focusing on your spine alignment. One can come to understand a greater strength in their body’s dynamics, and stress relief through a Pilates regimen. There are basically two ways to practice Pilates, one is to use a mat and nothing else, and the other is to use various Pilates equipment which focuses more on the strengthening aspects of this exercise program. Generally both types of Pilates are recommended to gain the full effects.
Often times when people think of Pilates mats they think that there yoga mat may be just as good. Even though Yoga and Pilates have a few things in common, their mats do not. In yoga you are standing for most of the time and there are more exercises where padding isn’t as necessary. In Pilates you spend a lot of time on the ground, rolling around and working on your side and back. So it is very beneficial to the student for him or her to get a thicker mat. In fact, with Pilates you will want to get as thick of a mat as possible. This will ensure that you can focus more on your techniques than avoiding pain. You can find these mats any place that sells Pilates equipment, and they may even have them at your yoga studio.
The Pilates equipment that one uses can vary with the types of exercise the student will be practicing. There are also two types of Pilates exercise equipment. There is the small type that can be carried with you like the magic circle, exercise bands, and the ball. Then there is the type that you can find in a yoga/Pilates studio or gym such as reformer, barrel, tower, wunda chair and cadillac. You can find the smaller equipment in the studio as well, but they are often something that you can use at home.
In general, the Pilates equipment and the mats are preferred by different students respectfully. The student that may be new to Pilates may choose to use the mat and small equipment at first. This will give them a routine that is low impact and may not even need any warming up to.