If you're looking for a fitness program that is fun, challenging, develops balance and control, provides total body conditioning, improves posture and breathing, helps reduce stress, and has a strong focus on a combination of core strength and flexibility, then incorporate Pilates exercises and principles into your weekly workout routine.

Regardless of age or fitness level there is always an appropriate place to start when developing your Pilates workout programme. If you're healthy, Pilates matwork can be a great way to get your workout programme started. There are over 50 different Pilates matwork exercises. A basic workout usually includes about fifteen to twenty exercises and, once you know what you're doing, can be completed in as little as fifteen minutes. This can be a quick stand-alone workout, or can be a great complement to an aerobic training program. It does not take long as someone experienced can undertake an advanced Pilates mat workout for bewteen half and one hour.

You can find numerous books, Pilates mat videos and dvd's on the market that can be good resources to help remember the exercises, but many people are unaware that matwork is only half of the Pilates system. The best results will come from a Pilates programme that contains both matwork and equipment exercises. And nothing compares to the benefits you can receive through the hands-on assistance of a qualified teacher.

Everybody's body has both weak and dominant muscles and we don't always notice when we are cheating. Regardless of your athletic background, when you are learning the Pilates exercises, the eagle-eye of a good instructor can assist you in really getting the most from your Pilates training program. Once you know what you're doing, you should be self-sufficient and able to workout on your own with occasional sessions with an instructor to tweak your technique and progress your workout program.

When in doubt, it's always a good idea to start with a few one-on-one Pilates training sessions and let your teacher help guide you into a workout plan that's best for you. Whether it's on the Pilates equipment, matwork, or both, a well-planned, whole-body Pilates workout should be completed in less than hour. At the end, rather than being in a state of exhaustion, you should actually feel much more invigorated. The goal is improved mind, body, and spirit, increased circulation and blood flow, reduced stress, improved energy and enhanced vitality to enjoy life.

A Pilates exercise program can be one of the best ways to keep your whole body healthy. If you haven't experienced the benefits of Pilates, find a qualified teacher, studio, or health club that offers training programmes for both the matwork exercises and Pilates equipment, and check it out or perhaps to get you started, an instructional dvd to show you exactly what this exercise technique can offer you.