Poise Balance Strength	Ease into Pilates	Posture Flexibility Dexterity

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• Use the flexibility of the DVD format to create your own home workout with our four user-friendly exercise segments. Do one, two, three, or all four segments.

• Warm up, strength, abs/back, and relaxation/cool down segments are suitable for both fitness beginners & regular exercisers.

• No special equipment is required--just a DVD player and a mat.

• Ease into Pilates is a comprehensive introduction to a personal fitness program that focuses on helping you to look and feel great by

strengthening muscles
creating balance
improving posture
reducing stress

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Questions & Answers (For additional details, click "More Information.")

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• What is Pilates? What are its benefits?

Pilates is a yoga-based, low-impact form of exercise. Exercising with Pilates

• really works the abs.
• improves your posture, strength, and circulation.
• reduces your stress.
• increases your flexibility and range of motion.
• is a faster, more efficient workout.

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• Are there any risks in taking up Pilates?

Pilates has been around since the early 1900s, and many people have practiced it at all its levels of intensity without suffering adverse effects. Of course, you should speak with your doctor about taking up Pilates or any form of exercise--especially if you've been away from regular physical activity for any length of time. People with spinal abnormalities or pain associated with spinal injury or herniated discs should not attempt the Pilates exercises and should seek the advice of a physician.

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• Why purchase Ease into Pilates? Who are the people behind Katrina Fitness?

Ease into Pilates is a well-designed workout with excellent production values.

• Our unique workout is choreographed with flowing movements and clear, detailed cueing.
• Using a blend of mostly Pilates exercises, each segment is carefully linked to invigorating original music specifically designed for this workout.
• The segments include warm up, strength, abs/back, and relaxation/cool down.
• Segments are approximately 10 minutes long and can be done one, two, three, or four at a time to accommodate any fitness level!
• Katrina, Vicki, and Kristin guide you through an exceptionally well-produced workout where the focus is quality, not quantity.

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• I already exercise. Can I cross-train with Pilates?

You certainly can! Pilates training is a terrific workout by itself, and it can also be an excellent form of cross-training since it concentrates on several aspects of fitness described above as benefits of Pilates.

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• Can I replace my aerobic exercise with Pilates?

Pilates is generally not considered aerobic exercise, and it may not be the best replacement for aerobic exercise.

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• Pilates looks like yoga. Is it a replacement for yoga?

Pilates is based on yoga, but it is not meant to be a replacement for yoga.

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• Can Pilates help me lose weight?

While practicing Pilates, you may lose weight because it is physical exercise, but weight loss is not the main focus of Pilates.

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• How quickly can I expect to see results?

You're probably expecting this answer. Your results will depend on your levels of commitment, practice, and patience.

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• Can I practice Pilates if I am pregnant?

If you are planning to start any exercise program, pregnant or not, talk with your physician first and follow his or her recommendations.

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• Do both women and men practice Pilates?

Both women and men practice Pilates.

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More Information (Click "Back" to return to the short answers.)

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• More Info: What is Pilates? What are its benefits for you?

Pilates (pi-lah-teez) is a low-impact method of exercise that is growing rapidly in popularity among women and men of all ages and physical conditions. Its main focus is to help you improve your posture and develop stronger, leaner muscles without getting a "bulked up" look. Whether you are already exercising for health or if you wish to ease back into physical exercise and fitness, Pilates can help you with your posture, strength, and coordination. As you progress, you will develop more flexibility and range of motion, increase your body awareness, strengthen your abdominal muscles, and reduce your stress through a series of poised, rhythmic movements. How rapidly is Pilates training growing in popularity? Consider some of the findings reported in the 15th annual Superstudy® of Sports Participation (conducted in January 2002) by American Sports Data, Inc. In this report it was noted that cardiovascular exercise is now "being heavily reinforced by two other essential pillars of physical health — flexibility and strength-training. From 1998-2001, aggregate participation in Cardio workouts has been...lagging far behind the growth of Strength-Training (+12%) and Flexibility/Stretching activities, which have skyrocketed by +23%." The report further states: "Accommodating legions of women, older enthusiasts and deconditioned beginners, the fastest growing exercise forms tend to be workouts that are less taxing or take a lesser toll on the body — and at the same time, help provide a balanced fitness regimen. It is no surprise to us that one of the conclusions of the study is that "The top growth activity was Pilates Training, which increased to 2.4 million participants in 2001 — a 40% leap over the initial year 2000 measurement of 1.7 million."

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• More Info: Are there any risks in taking up Pilates?

Special modifications can be made to all of the Pilates exercises. It is very important to listen to your body first. If you need a break at any time, relax, and then begin again when you are ready. The Pilates exercises focus on precise form and technique. If something hurts, don't do it; if you have pain in your back associated with sore muscles, the stretches can help.

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• More Info: Why Ease into Pilates? Who are the people behind Katrina Fitness?

Katrina is an AFAA-certified instructor and has been a health and fitness specialist for many years. She is a full-time public school health teacher. With her Master's Degree in Health and Physical Education from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, and her years of experience, Katrina is an all-around exercise and wellness professional who creates workouts that flow smoothly, are easy to follow, and appeal to all age groups. Formerly the Buffalo Athletic Club's area Aerobics Director and founder of its "Fit Kids" program, Katrina developed and consistently expanded the health club's exercise class programs. Katrina's exercise participants on the Ease into Pilates DVD, Kristin and Vicki, are both AFAA-certified fitness instructors. Her husband has written and produced all the music for the Ease Into Pilates workout. He is currently the musical director for Cirque du Soleil's touring show Kooza.

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• More Info: I already exercise. Can I cross-train with Pilates?

Pilates works your body in a different way from most other forms of exercise. It helps to realign and rebalance your muscles. Pilates gives your body a break from additional high-impact routines. As you become more aware of your posture through your practice of Pilates, you will appreciate just how much posture relates to the forms of physical exercise and activity in which you may already be engaged. Pilates can even help remedy some postural problems related to other repetitive exercise routines. Cross-training with Pilates would be ideal if you already exercise.

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• More Info: Can I replace my aerobic exercise with Pilates?

Until you reach the advanced levels of traditional Pilates, it may not provide you with a sufficient cardiovascular workout, especially at the more gentle beginning levels. At the advanced levels, Pilates is hard, sweat-producing work. During a Pilates workout, you will experience an elevated heart rate and you will increase your oxygen intake. However, Pilates at all levels from beginning to advanced is more focused on strengthening, stretching, toning, and energizing you.

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• More Info: Pilates looks like yoga. Is it a replacement for yoga?

If you watch someone engaged in yoga postures, you will see that he or she holds an unchanging posture for a time and then moves on to another posture without repetitions. Pilates is more dynamic. Someone practicing Pilates will hold a posture, but will also exercise the torso by moving his or her limbs.

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• More Info: Can Pilates help me lose weight?

We've all heard time and again that the best way to lose weight is through a combination of proper nutrition and regular exercise, and this is true. Pilates by itself is not a weight-loss system. In conjunction with a consistently sound nutrition program (i.e., good eating habits) Pilates may help you lose weight. You may experience other changes as well, such as a smaller dress size. As you become more fit and toned, you may gain muscle, but lose fat.

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• More Info: How quickly can I expect to see results?

Your body and your level of physical fitness are the products of your genes, living patterns and habits, past and present physical training and exercise, and illnesses and injuries you've experienced. These factors are unique to you, and it is difficult or impossible to predict exactly when you will see the results you are after. As with any exercise method, your commitment, determination, and patience have a great impact on your getting to your goals--and the speed at which you will reach them. Quick "miracle" methods are very appealing in their claims and promises, but like most "quick fixes," they rarely work. Pilates is not a quick means to achieve a longer, leaner body and overall wellness, nor will your results come about miraculously. If you practice Pilates on a regular basis--not just occasionally or once a week--you will see gradual but distinct improvements in your strength and flexibility over a period of weeks and months.

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• More Info: Can I practice Pilates if I am pregnant?

If you are pregnant and you get the go-ahead from your doctor, you should seek out a Pilates instructor with pre- and postnatal qualifications who can closely monitor your program and advise you through constant feedback.

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• More Info: Do both women and men practice Pilates?

Right now, women practice Pilates in the greatest numbers, but we believe more men should practice Pilates! However, Pilates is usually associated with "dancer's body" and "longer and leaner" and "overall grace," things most men try to steer clear of.

If you're trying to get your boyfriend or husband to practice Pilates, another problem you may encounter is that the Pilates exercises can be interpreted as repetitive and boring, especially if your guy prefers thrilling exercise such as mountain biking, skiing, or hockey. Some men prefer the "gym scene" with its loud music, clanking weights and grunting growls. If this is the case, you may have a tough time convincing him to strengthen, lengthen, balance and stretch! But consider this:

Pilates, a simple form of exercise, can help anyone's performance in other sports as well as rehabilitate injuries that he or she may have received from repetitive exercise routines. Pilates helps correct imbalances in your body from overtrained muscles, and it helps prevent injuries because it provides stability through the joints and the body's core. Pilates also helps increase range of motion and flexibility, and these outcomes can help any golfer, skier, snow boarder, skater, hockey player, or biker--man or woman--so why not give it a try! At the very least, Pilates will help you get those flatter, firmer abs!

If your guy needs a little more convincing, tell him that Patrick Swayze, Robin Williams, Danny Glover, Gregory Peck, Bill Murray, John Cleese, the NBA's Steve Smith, the NFL Cincinnati Bengals and San Francisco 49ers, and members of the Cleveland Indians are just a few men (and teams) we know of who have used Pilates.

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