Exercise Newbie

Nearly 5 million Americans suffer from cardiovascular disease and each gender is equally at risk. Cardiovascular disease has killed more women then men every year since 1984 and is the #1 cause of death for women age 35 and older.One of the safest and most effective ways to reduce your risk and improve your cardiovascular fitness is through aerobic exercise. Unfortunately, 70% of American women don’t exercise regularly and inactivity nearly doubles a person’s risk for heart disease, ranking it among the leading risk factors. The American Heart Association reports that regular physical activity is as important for heart health as the other three major lifestyle factors: quitting smoking, lowering blood cholesterol, and controlling blood pressure.
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Hold on a second, if - deep-down - you really don’t want to exercise, then don’t bother reading further. You will need to get to the bottom of those feelings before moving on. Ambivalence and double-mindedness will only lead to a constant cycle of disappointment. But - if you want to reap the many mental and physical benefits of exercise — then read on.
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Pilates (pronounced: puh-lah-teez) improves your mental and physical well-being, increases flexibility, and strengthens muscles. Pilates uses controlled movements in the form of mat exercises or equipment to tone and strengthen the body. For decades, it’s been the exercise of choice for dancers and gymnasts (and now Hollywood actors), but it was originally used to rehabilitate bedridden or immobile patients during World War I.
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* Increased muscular strength
* Increased strength of tendons and ligaments
* Potentially improves flexibility (range of motion of joints)
* Reduced body fat and increased lean body mass (muscle mass)
* Potentially decreases resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure
* Positive changes in blood cholesterol
* Improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity
* Improved strength, balance, and functional ability in older adults