Many Pilates users talk about their “Pilates abs” and how they begin to appear after only a few workouts. Pilates focuses on engaging the core muscles of the body–the abdomen, lower back, hips and buttocks. These muscles are used in every Pilates exercise.

Pilates also engages your abs with its correct breathing techniques. Because your ab muscles are used almost continuously while doing a Pilates workout, you will notice that they begin to firm up and flatten after only a few sessions.

The first step to flat Pilates abs is correctly engaging your core muscles. Then learn to use correct form, movement and breathing as you perform each exercise.

What can Pilates do for your abs?

• It makes your abs look flatter. Pilates lengthens your muscles, which makes them appear to be flatter than they actually are.

• It sculpts your muscles and makes your abs strong, long and lean. Muscles that are well-used and stretched appear to look long and lean.

• Long, lean abdominal muscles change your appearance. The flexibility that goes along with this makes you look younger. Some even claim they look taller.

• The stronger your ab muscles, the better they support your back. This helps to prevent injury or re-injury. Some Pilates users claim the exercises relieve their back pain.

• Strong Pilates abs will affect the way you move in your everyday life. You’ll feel stronger, which will be reflected in how your carry yourself.

The basic Pilates beginners exercises are extremely effective in toning and creating the so-called “Pilates abs.” There’s a little more to it than that, though. You have to do the exercises using correct form in order flatten your abs. Remember to concentrate on pulling them in. And don’t forget to warm up. That’s important no matter which part of your body you’re interested in sculpting.

About The Author

Sharon Sweeny is a creative copywriter, specializing in gardening and self sufficient, do-it-yourself lifestyles. She divides her free time among her garden in Minneapolis, alternately juggling half a dozen creative projects and blogging on gardening while pondering the exact location of Frostbite Falls, Minnesota.

Want to get the best writing for today’s internet? Whatever niche or market you are in Sharon Sweeny will help get you noticed. Work with a professional who gets the job done right and on time with no excuses.

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 25th, 2009 at 12:35 pm and is filed under pilates abs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.