Whether you want to get stronger, slim down, recover from an injury, or relieve stress, exercise plays an important role in you reaching your health goals. And with summer quickly approaching, getting fit is on the mind, right?

Although I’m sort of a reluctant exerciser, I do LOVE mat Pilates. It’s accessible at any fitness level, and there’s no equipment or gym membership required.  Whether you’ve never exercised a day in your life or you’ve got abs of steel, Pilates can help you get stronger and leaner as you age. And the benefits reach far beyond stronger muscles…I’m talking digestive benefits, stress relief, pain relief, and more.

I started doing Pilates back in 2002. I was a yoga person up until then (and still am!), but I never got stronger doing yoga. This is mostly because I don’t do yoga for exercise, I do it to clear my mind and relax. When I discovered Pilates while working at Lifetime Fitness, I loved it so much I got certified to teach it. Getting certified was a great experience because I learned that I’m not cut out to teach people how to exercise. Nope. A personal trainer I am not. Even though I never used my certification in that way, I did learn a lot about Pilates!

Here’s everything you need to know about mat Pilates – what it is, why I love it, and how you can start seeing results in literally just 10 minutes per day.

What is Mat Pilates?

Pilates is named after its founder, Joseph Pilates. He started out developing mat work exercises with the goal of restoring balance to the mind and body, and later developed exercises using specialized equipment. Joseph Pilates was a pioneer in his time. He believed that mental and physical health are interconnected and that eating healthy and getting sufficient sleep were essential for overall health.

Mat Pilates is made up of low-impact exercises that focus on posture, breathing, and controlled movements. Pilates is not about doing tons of repetitions, it’s about holding correct posture through controlled movements that help to realign your spine and tone your muscles — with some serious benefits for your abs! It’s alignment work that literally starts from your core.

Core strength is a key component of Pilates – the core is considered the ‘powerhouse’ of the body, and most of the exercises start the movement from your core. The goal with any Pilates practice is to gain flexibility, strength, alignment, and good posture. This is accomplished by lengthening the muscles and aligning the spine, rather than building bulky muscles.

Why I Love Mat Pilates

Mat Pilates is low impact, so it’s super easy on your joints. You focus on small movements that strengthen and lengthen muscles at the same time. This means you end up with a long and lean muscle tone, rather than bulk. With just one week of practicing for 10 minutes a day, you’ll notice better flexibility and posture, and a stronger core.

I also love that it’s an exercise I can do anywhere — without equipment.

I’m often hunched over a computer for much of my work day, but practicing Pilates has improved my posture on and off the mat, and I can definitely feel a difference when I’m sitting at my computer with a straight back and strong core!

The process of deep breathing and movement does wonders for your lymphatic system as well, which is essentially your body’s waste disposal system. Supporting your lymphatic system means your body is able to get rid of toxins and waste to keep your immune system and digestive heath in tip top shape.

The benefits of Pilates aren’t limited to just physical strength. Pilates isn’t the kind of workout you leave feeling sweaty, tight and tired. Thanks to the balance, focus, and strength work in Pilates, you always leave the mat feeling strong, but also energized, de-stressed, and focused.

Ready to do some Pilates?

Pilates sounds pretty amazing, right? (that’s because it IS!)

That’s why I’ve partnered with my good friend and Pilates trainer Kristina Casillo-Collins to bring Pilates to YOU with our exciting new program called Core Confidence.

Core Confidence is a comprehensive online Pilates studio that includes nutrition & Pilates together to give you maximum results.

Membership includes access to a growing library of 10, 20 and 30 minute Pilates videos hosted by Pilates instructor Kristina Casillo-Collins on a beautiful membership site. You’ll love Kristina’s teaching style, she gives great direction on form so you feel confident you’re doing the movements correctly.

Here’s what else you get:

• 2 new videos uploaded each month to keep you challenged (at no additional cost!)
• LIFETIME access for one low price (no recurring fees)
• My 4-week nutrition program to help you get Healthy NOW
• An online Facebook community for support, motivation and accountability
• Classes you can do anywhere—at home, on vacation or on business travel with no equipment required!

Plus — these great bonuses:

• Done-for-you workout plans incorporating the 10, 20 and 30 minute workouts.
• A 7-day Sugar Buster Meal Plan designed by yours truly. You’ll get nourishing recipes, a week-long meal plan (with preparation guide), and done-for-you grocery list designed to help you reduce inflammation and eliminate sugar cravings.
• Kristina’s Slim & Sexy Arm Workout

I am super excited to offer you this great new service and I hope you’ll join us!

CLICK HERE to learn more and get started today!