Pilates and more Pilates! Pilates is the growing non-impact exercise program created by Joseph Pilates to help everyone work on their core body strengths while toning abs muscles, back muscles, and everything in between. Stott Pilates, when performed by Pilate’s experts allows the instructors to challenge their clients on various levels. Also known as the “Ivy League" of Pilates, Stott Pilates teaches ultimate Pilates movements for maximum effect dedicated to certain areas of the body.

Stotts Pilates is geared toward any age level and one can begin with varied levels to achieve optimal results. Recommended and used by athletes and post-surgery or rehab patients, this Pilates program should be performed by following a certified Stotts Pilates instructor or by purchasing DVDs or how-to e-books or by visiting Internet sites that are dedicated to the Stotts Pilates goal.

Here are the Stotts Pilates recommended levels to generate maximum results:

• The Intense Program for Instructors (Level 1) – If you are a Pilates instructor, this intense program is right for you to gain all the knowledge you need to teach your Pilates class on all the required Stotts movements. You will be trained on not only mat work but also all the equipment that comes when teaching Stotts Pilates.

• The Overview Program – (Level 2) – At this level instructors will begin by first explaining what Stott Pilates is all about including required movements and a firm explanation on how each Pilates movement affects each body part or body core. Your Stotts Pilates instructor will also help you gain insight on mat work, exercise balls, and other equipment necessary to reach your Stotts Pilates goals.

• The Enhanced Program – (Level 3) – Here, one will follow the Stotts Pilates instructor to work on special Pilates equipment for the best rewards. This equipment can include Pilates Chairs, mat work movements, and barrels to achieve a better understanding of how Stotts Pilates will work best for you.

• The Rejuvenation Program – (Level 4) – A good Pilates instructor can guide your body through the Stotts Pilates rejuvenation program that is geared toward sports injuries, back injuries, and even post-surgical injuries. Just like trained physical therapists, Pilates experts will offer up Stotts Pilates exercise in this rejuvenation program to ensure you are strengthening your body’s core while performing Pilates in a safe but rehab technique.

• The Connection Program – (Level 5) – This program is great for those of us who want to find out every level of Pilates from the standard to chair Pilates to Stotts Pilates to ensure we are toning every part of our body without high-impact movements or injuries. Your instructor will help you cross train using each of these Pilates steps into one glorious Pilates class of movements of all kinds using all sorts of recommended Pilates equipment.

• The Group Program – (Level 6) – Once you are on your way to totally understanding how to gain the most from Pilates, the Stotts group program will help your work with and encourage others. As a group, you will enhance how you work in controlled movements together and teach each other, under the guidance of your Pilates instructor on how to best workout in the Pilates world.

To begin with Stotts Pilates and ensure you are performing your exercises and movements for the maximum effort, seek out a good Pilates instructor or purchase DVDs from instructors who are familiar with the Stotts Pilates method. You can also find many online instructors who can help you achieve the best Stotts Pilates results right in your own home or with a group of others.