Once Nanci Kushner retired from her profession as a grade school teacher, she pursued her interest in Pilates. Her interest for the discipline resulted in her becoming a Pilates instructor. While Pilates is a word that many people recognize as a form of exercise, few know just what Pilates is exactly.

While Pilates may sound like an intimidating, advanced form of exercise, it is actually an easily accessible one that helps people of all ages and fitness levels develop their strength in core muscles, improve balance, flexibility, and develop a better posture.

Pilates is known as a method of exercise that uses low-impact flexibility and strength training. Pilates tends to focus on your core, such as your abdominals, hips, thighs, and lower back. This exercise method was coined Pilates because of its creator, Joseph Pilates.

Pilates routines tend to have low weight, high repetition strength training exercises. A good comparison to Pilates would be calisthenics like pushups and sit-ups. Generally, Pilates is simply weight training that does not focus on mass, but on flexibility, balance, elasticity, and strength. While some feel that Pilates is only for professional athletes or dancers, this is a common misconception. Pilates is a low-impact training method for building strength, which means it can be done by people of any age and fitness level.

The best part about Pilates is that it does not require any kind of special equipment. Most Pilates exercise can be done simply using a yoga mat. Having a routine Pilates regimen can help you to improve your core strength and stability. The exercise is also good for treating and preventing back pain, improving your posture, your balance, and your overall flexibility. Pilates focuses on overall wellness, strength, and flexibility of the body. That is why the exercise is chosen by many athletes and dancers. This does not mean however, that you have to be a professional in order to reap benefits from a Pilates routine.

Nanci Kushner has continued to grow her knowledge of Pilates. Her passion for the exercise method has allowed her to learn more and pass that knowledge down to her students, who are always eager to learn.

Source(s): http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/pilates-for-beginners/art-20047673?pg=1

About: Nanci Kushner is a retired teacher that stays in shape as a Pilates instructor.

To Learn More About Nanci Kushner, Visit : https://nancikushner.wordpress.com/