Keeping your body fit and in shape pays dividends at any age. When you’re very young, getting into the routine of regular exercise will have many benefits & allow you to grow into a strong and healthy adult. Having an active lifestyle can, & will, change your body for the better. Today there are many avoidable diseases young people can develop by living an unhealthy lifestyle. Ailments like diabetes and heart disease have become prevalent in young people & are directly related to the fact that they are living more sedentary lifestyles.

As you get older, incorporating a fitness regimen into your, already busy, life becomes much more challenging. The older you get the harder it becomes to find the time. Yet as you reach middle age and beyond, exercise becomes extremely important because it helps to fight against the side effects of age.

As you age your metabolism slows down, your muscles get weaker, your coordination suffers, and your balance tends to be less steady. Exercise combats all of these issues and helps you to feel and act years, even decades, younger than your actual age. So for any age, a fitness regimen is a smart and necessary thing to undertake.

It’s important to note however that not every fitness regimen is created equal. Some fitness regimens are extremely demanding on the body and, while fine if you are younger, can be dangerous and cause injury. Also, some fitness regimens only focus on specific parts of the body rather than the whole thing. Your physical fitness routine should be one that delivers a complete body workout and hits the key elements needed to get you in great shape.

Pilates – The Total Body Workout

Pilates is a form of exercise that focuses on your entire body. It utilizes slow and precise movements, while controlling your breath, to deliver resistance, flexibility, and strengthening to a whole host of different muscle groups. Pilates places a particular focus on the core which is the muscles at the center of the body around the abdominals and the back. These muscles are critical for balance, stability and strength throughout the entire body. By starting at the core and working outward, the best results are achieved.

Pilates is Perfect for All Ages

Because Pilates is low-impact and moves at a slow, steady pace it can work around most physical limitations. It is the ideal exercise for people of all ages. Pilates classes slowly and carefully walk new students through the exercises ensuring that they do them correctly and no unnecessary physical risks are taken. For more advanced students, there are tougher exercises and Pilates reformer classes which utilize a specialized Pilates apparatus to get even better results. This is the ideal option for those looking to get into the best shape.