Pilates Principles: What They Are And How Important They Are To Pilates Success

While Pilates has many characteristics that make it similar to other exercise regimes, there are also some fundamental differences that make it unique with the application of six key Pilates principles being central. So what are these six key principles, how did they come about and why do they make so much of an impact? This article will reveal all.

A by-product of the creation of Pilates as opposed to a starting point, the principles of Pilates were not actually developed by its creator, Joseph Pilates, but something that has naturally evolved as other instructors have put his concepts to use. It is therefore important, at this point, to note while at their core the principles may be the same, there is often some variation in the way they are termed.

The first principle we will be looking at is breath. A key component in all Pilates exercises the deep conscious inhalation and exhalations not only help the body's ability to stretch to its full potential, but also are a great tool in releasing tension.

The next principle is centering. One of the elements that makes Pilates stand out from similar regimes, which have a more general focus, Pilates brings the focus of each exercise to 'The Core' or 'Powerhouse' (the area between the bottom ribs and pubic bone including the abs, lower back muscles and those around the hip joint) of the body.

To get the full benefit of these exercises, it is important your mind is playing as much of a role as your body and this is where concentration comes in. Related to the conscious understanding and control of not only each movement, but each body part within it, this degree of focus really does set it apart from other methods.

The fourth principle is flow and is something that follows on beautifully on from the above principles. To reach the full potential with each exercise, it is essential that each movement not only flows, but that the muscle, breath and body position of each one is done with perfect timing.

Control is the next on our list. Complimenting all of the other principles, this one is related to ensuring that you are aware of every muscle and body part as you perform each exercise, an element that only helps improve the quality of your exercises, but the impact it has on you.

The final principle is precision and acts to tie all six together. Related to the necessity to be aware structurally of each movement and the exactness and alignment of each body part in relation to each other, if you and your instructor are ensuring all six of these Pilates principles are central to each and everything you do then you can be assured the full benefits of Pilates will be coming your way.

Winston Carney is the owner and lead instructor of Winston Pilates, a Santa Monica Pilates studio offering group and individual classes to clients across Los Angeles and surrounding areas.

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Finding The Best Odds: As Important As Picking The Winner

Sports fans, we really do like to bet don't we?

Apparently we're happy to stake our money on anything from bullock racing to a bullfight. The consulting firm H2 Gambling Capital released statistics recently which reveal that the average UK adult or the US adult will lose around US$400 gambling each year. But they're nowhere near the Australians (the most prolific bettors) who will lose more than $1,400 for every adult this year.

All these losses add up and popular sports betting markets like English Premier League soccer, NFL football, NBA basketball, NHL hockey, and MLB baseball turn over billions of dollars each year. And, as in other billion dollar industries, the competition for your custom is fierce. Online bookmaking operations today are slick, sophisticated, and making a killing. They employ expert staff to set appropriate starting prices and use complex statistical models to manage their risk in real time.

However, all this effort from the bookmakers is nothing in comparison to the time expended by punters themselves. Consider the time you spend turning a bet over in your mind before you place it and then multiply that by the number of bets placed each day. Hundreds of thousands of man-hours are spent trying to predict the outcome of sporting events every day.

But could this effort be better utilised?

There are only two things which determine the expected payout of a bet. The first is the likelihood of the predicted result and the second is the odds accepted for that result. Improving on either one of these factors improves the expected return of the bet. Yet, for all the effort expended attempting to predict the right result, it seems that proportionately very little effort is expended securing the best possible odds.

This is hardly logical. It is not possible to anticipate the result of a sporting event with any meaningful confidence and even guessing at the likelihood of a particular result is extremely hard. At least some of the time spent trying to predict the outcome of a sporting event would be better spent comparing the odds offered by the various bookmakers and selecting the bookmaker which offers the best return on this particular bet. It's quick and easy to shop around the many online sportsbooks, compare odds, and find a better offer. There are even plenty of services out there that will do it for you for free.

Professional gamblers often have accounts with multiple bookmakers, pay close attention to the odds offered by each, and seek out the best odds before they place a bet. But the average punter tends to mindlessly accept the odds offered by his usual bookmaker. This is a large oversight and a costly missed opportunity.

Bookmakers often post noticeably different odds for the same event and it's common to find mismatches of up to 10% from one bookmaker to another. This percentage is there for the taking and it mystifies me that more people aren't shopping around for better odds.

Tim Crisp is the founder of Mashbet, a free online service that allows bettors to compare odds across multiple online bookmakers. Find the best odds with Mashbet and secure the best possible return on your bet.

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Why Speed And Agility Drills Are So Important

Most sports require speed and agility because players need to be able to react quickly to events on the field or on the court. Not only does this involve a quick reaction time mentally, but your body needs to be trained with speed and agility drills so that it can act quickly as well. This involves strong and mobile muscles that instinctively move according to events as they unfold in your game.

If you're falling behind your teammates and competitors in terms of agility and speed, then you have probably tried various speed and agility drills to improve your reactions. It can be frustrating to watch others react quickly so naturally, especially if you have put in all the extra training hours. The Plantar Flexor Formula is designed to provide you with the tools you need to improve with a series of speed and agility drills and expert advice. This can be your lasting solution if you are ready to commit to improvement.

The Plantar Flexor Formula focuses on movement efficiency so that you can get rid of the wasteful movements that slow you down. Instead of allowing your body to take extra steps that only add to your reaction times, these speed and agility drills streamline your movements to make them smoother so that you can move faster. Additionally, these speed and agility drills focus on plyometric training that involves non-linear techniques. While running on a treadmill is a linear movement, the type of action you do on the field involves more sidestepping, quick turns, side-to-side movements, and other non-linear movement. This involves a different muscle group, as well as a different muscle training process, so it is important to alter your workout regime accordingly. These speed and agility drills take care to incorporate quality non-linear techniques that will translate to improvements in the game.

In addition to speed and agility drills, the Plantar Flexor Formula focuses on tendon stiffness training so as to minimize your risk of injury after you play. These movements are extra taxing on your muscles and joints because they happen so fast, so it is extra important to take care of your body. By incorporating tendno stiffness training into you routine, you can ensure better health and lower rates of injury.

In addition to basic information about all of these programs and speed and agility drills, the Plantar Flexor Formula has an exercise video library so that you can see the actual exercises and stretches in action. This makes them easier to follow by providing a clear visual aid that you can use any time you want.

With only a small time commitment, you should see major results in your speed and agility. If you're ready to make a serious effort toward plyometric training, then you should purchase the Plantar Flexor Formula now. The benefits of these speed and agility drills are long-lasting. Rather than delay your progress any longer, invest in this product now so that you can take control on the field and improve your athletic performance.

What you just learned about Speed and Agility Drills is just the beginning. To get the full story and all the details, check us out at Improve Athletic Performance website.

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