GIVE PILATES A TRY

Are you energized and motivated during the summer months and want to jazz up your routine to focus on health and fitness. A great form of exercise for all ages and fitness levels is Pilates (pul-la-tease).

Pilates, named after founder Joseph Pilates, has been around since the 1920s when it was used to rehabilitate World War I soldiers. Since then, Pilates has been used to advance the training of top athletes and is used as the "secret" for many celebrities to stay fit and trim.

Pilates exercise uses specific movements, positions and repetitions, while focusing on core muscles (stomach, buttocks and hips). The movements are non-jarring, making it easy on painful or arthritic joints. Benefits of Pilates include increased lung capacity, increased circulation, muscle strength and flexibility, coordination, body and postural awareness, and increased balance. The exercises are performed on a mat or Pilates equipment.

One of the many benefits of Pilates exercise is that it can be tailored to anyone - top level athletes, those who aren't necessarily athletic but want to stay toned and flexible, and anyone in between.

If interested in giving Pilates a try, St. Luke's offers mat classes at three locations, with instruction by trained Physical Therapy staff. For more information on classes, call Miller Creek Medical Clinic at 249-4608; Mt. Royal Pines at 724-0707; or St. Luke's Hospital at 249-5519. You might find that Pilates is just the thing to jazz up your routine