8 pages in length. Exercise has long been a precursor of energy, stamina and overall good health; that some trends have remained strong while others have faded away into history speaks to the staying power of only a handful of techniques. Pilates is one such approach to physical fitness that has not only weathered the pressure of fad exercising, but it has strengthened its position in the combined worlds of physical and mental health as one of the most popular methods. Bibliography lists 8 sources.
Name of Research Paper File: LM1_TLCPilates.rtf
Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
Pilates is one such approach to physical fitness that has not only weathered the pressure of fad exercising, but it has strengthened its position in the combined worlds of physical
and mental health as one of the most popular methods. Joseph H. Pilates - German inventor, boxer and dancer - believed there was
an entirely different - and albeit better - way to approach exercise so the recipient exerts focused effort in exchange for significant results. Employed in America since the 1920s
and currently on an upswing with health minded individuals all across the country, the Pilates (pi-LAH-teez) method of physical fitness is comprised of more than five hundred controlled, defined movements
that dually lengthen and strengthen the muscle into a toned - not bulked - condition (Anonymous, 1998). Also pertinent to the success of this particular approach to health is
the level of concentration required to bring about the synergistic balance of body and mind. Primary to Pilates is the focus placed upon ones back, buttocks and abdomen, all of
which are considered the bodys core muscles. A complementary combination of appropriate, deep breathing and specific muscle movement elicits a physical response similar to that of much more strenuous
exercise programs (Anonymous, 1999). The inspiring combination of Zen meditation and yoga helped Pilates create his unique approach to physical and mental wellbeing,
recognizing how standard exercise movements are far too jarring and harshly impacting to render the desired outcome. Instead, he incorporated proper posture, slow and deliberate movements, as well as
a sense of mindfulness in order to achieve the mind/body objective. That there exists a lowered risk of injury inherent to the Pilates approach is a significant benefit for