Yoga For Your Health

Joseph Pilates created this unsurpassed form of bodywork with several important accessories. And the choices within each category of accessory can be a bit overwhelming. But if you familiarize your self with a few key points and try to remember to embark into this area of your life with a focus on the traditional, in no time you will be comfortable.

The loop is a pilates accessory that is so simple, yet so crucial. It is at the end of a rope on the reformer or Cadillac and it is what secures your feet when you are doing leg work. One cool advance on this idea is the double loop. It is great because it allows rope adjustment via the loop.

Handles come in many shapes and sizes, but the basic and classic style is still my favorite. Pick the one that is in your price range and you will probably be happy. Over time you can try different styles and materials and you may find one that you prefer over all others.

The Gondola pole is the most commonly used Pilates pole and for a good reason: it helps one maintain their balance when they are doing standing work on the reformer. Poles are all about adding even more diversity then the basic 500 exercises already allow.

Pilates poles are nothing you need to concern yourself with until you get to a more advanced level. So, if you are a beginner just forget that you even heard mention of them.

Another Pilates Accessory that is more commonly used are cushions. Again, they can be used to tweak your position and comfort in order to tailor make specific exercises based on your needs.

The pilates mat, while it may seem simple, has some aspects that need to be considered. One is the thickness of the mat. This is not the same as a yoga mat because a Pilates mat needs to be thicker. Also, you have foldable mats which may feel better to you or may be more or less convenient. Another consideration is the color and the choice of patterns on the mat. This can and does have an effect on the mindset of the practitioner so this is a real factor in the choice of a mat.

These are just a few of the many accessories that can ad value to any Pilates experience. Many other factors come into play. Price and quality are two big ones of course. I like to view all accessories with an eye toward longevity because I like to think I have decades of Pilates ahead of me.