Pilates Magic Circle Do You Need One

Pilates Magic Circle Do You Need One



A Pilates magic circle is a piece of exercise equipment that many Pilates fans swear by today. It’s a ring, usually about 15” to 18” inches around with handles on each side. By pushing and pulling on the ring you add resistance to your Pilates workout. But do you really need a Pilates magic circle to get a good workout?

Pilates was actually designed to be done on a machine called a Reformer. Because not everyone had access to these machines and the movements proved to be so beneficial, Pilates routines were developed that didn’t require the machine at all. And they weren’t designed to be done with a ring, either.

Many perfectly good workouts don’t use a machine, a Pilates circle, or resistance of any kind except your own resistance as you move through the exercises. But a ring can help you achieve more intensity in your exercises.

If you can add resistance to a Pilates workout, the movements simply do double duty, and you may be able to get in shape faster than if you didn’t use resistance. So while it’s not absolutely necessary to have a Pilates magic circle, if you want one you should consider it a good investment.

All of the Pilates rings aren’t made alike. You can find them for as little as $15 and for as much as $75. Do you need the most expensive one you can find? You can probably get by with a less expensive one. Just test it a little bit before you make the purchase to be sure it seems like it can hold up to repeated workouts. Rings that don’t bounce back properly won’t do you much good.

The Pilates exercise circle can also be used in other workouts to add resistance, so you might find it’s more versatile than you thought. Being able to use it during other exercises certainly increases its value. You’ll use it more, and get more benefit from it that way.

But even if you purchase a Pilates magic circle, you should consider purchasing another very inexpensive piece of workout equipment. And this exercise equipment is even more versatile than the ring.

Resistance bands offer varying levels of resistance to meet your needs, and can be used with almost any exercise. They also offer the benefit of longer movements than a Pilates ring can offer. You can hold a resistance band and stretch both arms fully out to your sides, or do high leg lifts with intensity, and the band will always snap back into place.

This piece of equipment can be and often is used during Pilates workouts, because it puts resistance on both the flex and relax movements of each muscle, which is a cornerstone of Pilates exercise.

Resistance bands can cost as little as $10, and can be used in a variety of ways, so they’re a great investment. Even if you purchase a Pilates magic circle for specific exercises, you might want to consider incorporating bands into your workout, too.

BONUS : Six Poor Stomach Exercise Habits

As with all things, there is a right way to go about working for a flatter midsection, and several wrong ways. Working out the wrong way can lead to no physical improvement or worse, serious injury. When doing stomach exercises or any other exercise, be sure to consult a professional, warm up properly, and remember the following tips.

Keep Your Knees Up
When doing crunches, you want your knees to bent and your feet flat on the floor so that your knees are centered and pointed upward. Keep them centered and up, not to one side. If you drop your knees to one side, you are unnecessarily compressing your vertebrae, which can lead to a painful back injury.

Sit-Ups
Traditional sit-ups actually do very little for the abdominal muscles. Even when done properly, the strain is mostly on the hip muscles. There is also the tendency to pull the torso up with the arms, which of course is not the point of the exercise. Further, when sit-ups are done very quickly, as people have a tendency to do, it is momentum that mostly forces the torso up and down, rather than any muscle groups. The crunch is a good alternative to old school sit-ups.

Straight Leg Lift
Another traditional "stomach exercise," this move actually works the lower back more than any muscles in the midsection. This is also another way to put strain on your back, possibly leading to injury.

Too Many Reps
There is never a need to do more fifty reps of a stomach exercise. If fifty reps is not giving you results, doing more than that will not help wither. As you build strength, if you feel the need for a bigger challenge, try a more difficult exercise as an alternative to adding reps.

Sleeping
Believe it or not, how you sleep has an effect on your stomach exercise routine. If you sleep in a position that cause back pain, it will make it much more difficult to work on your midsection in the morning. Sleeping mostly on your stomach is one of the best ways to cause back pain, as it forces your back to arch, often resulting in annoying back pain. The best way to avoid this is to sleep on your back with a pillow under your knees. This will help keep your vertebrae in line, prevent back pain and allowing you work out pain free in the morning.

No Resistance
All stomach exercises need resistance to be effective, whether it comes from a resistance band, an exercise ball, or just gravity. Exercises that do not use any resistance, such as standing broomstick twists, will not be beneficial to your midsection. The good news is that this particular exercise will not do any harm and is actually a good warm up for your trunk. Just do not expect it to flatten out your stomach.

Proper exercise technique is important. These are just a few tips to help you avoid wasting time and potential injury. Be sure to research thoroughly before beginning a new exercise, and always consult your physician before beginning any physical fitness routine.