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Edited on Fri Jul-30-04 09:03 AM by Enraged_Ape
And this is coming from a physical therapist.
The whole Pilates philosophy springs from the idea that you have to strengthen your "core" muscles (primarily abs and low back) to have strength anywhere else in the body. There is a LOT of ab work, and although the techniques look simple (and technically they are simple to perform), I assure you, if you are doing the movements correctly, you will feel VERY worked out. It also requires enormous concentration, so the time flies and you feel relatively peaceful afterwards, since you haven't thought about your pile of bills or the Bush administration for a while.
The machines are really for more advanced work. You will want to work the mats for a while to develop the "powerhouse" first.
And yes, I believe a competent instructor is necessary to work with you, at least at first. You need to know when you're "cheating" or being lazy.
One of the greatest thing about Pilates: It gives you a great sense of your ab muscles. You will hold them in and tighten them a lot more, in effect giving you a flatter stomach from almost day one.
On edit: I've recommended Pilates for a lot of back pain patients, who have reported great results. It does wonders for posture and for overall flexibility and strength.
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