Now, get a hot body like Pippa Middleton

Newly-wed royal bride Kate Middleton’s little sis, Pippa, has recently revealed that pilates is the key to her much-talked about figure. The lady, who stole the show as a bridesmaid, has been reported as saying that pilates is her “weekly necessity”.

Aussie cricketer Shane Watson got hooked on to pilates four years back. “I had developed back problems and that had started affecting my game too. But pilates helped me get back in top form,” says Watson, who has his private pilates studio at his home.

Even Hollywood stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Hugh Grant, Cindy Crawford, Sarah Jessica Parker, Madonna, Martha Stewart and Sharon Stone, amongothers, subscribe to pilates. Perhaps it is because of these glam stars embracing pilates, or just the heightened general awareness that pilates is fast creating ripples. Former trainer of the Indian cricket team, John Gloster, believes that pilates is a great workout. “I think pilates is the perfectly balanced form of exercise,” he says.

Mumbai-based pilates trainer Samir Purohit says, “It is essential to connect your mind and body in pilates.” However, there are more ways in which pilates score over normal workouts, explains Samir, who is currently training several Bollywood and TV stars including Barkha Bisht and Isha Sharvani, among others.

There are five basic principles involved in pilates — breathing, pelvic placement, rib cage placement, shoulder placement, and neck placement. “No other exercise takes into account all these five principles at the same time.”

Pilates can be broadly categorised into mat pilates and reformer pilates. Most of these exercises are 3D, hence they are very different from normal gym workouts. Pilates prevents and strengthens joint injuries. “One of the most important aspects of pilates is the core — of which the abdomen and back are a part. And since every movement is generated from the core, you are able to have a better posture, better control and balance,” says Samir. Besides, pilates is also a great stress-buster since there is continous heavy breathing involved.

(Photo Courtesy: Blogspot.com)

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