Pilates is an excellent way of keeping fit and staying fit. It is a popular type of exercise for a variety of reasons. Probably one of the big reasons is because of the ironing board flat abs it creates when carried out properly. A Pilates workout video is the best way of learning how to do Pilates exercise properly.

When carrying out an exercise in Pilates form is everything. Form, describes the way an exercise is carried out. In other words, how closely the exercise reflects the original, correct way of performing the exercise.

Doing an exercise correctly is very important in any program or routine, but especially so in Pilates. The whole system relies on clean and flowing movements that need to be done right for them to work. If you rush through an exercise without taking the time to do it right you could be wasting your time or worse, get yourself hurt.

A good example of this principle is found in abdominal exercises, which let us face it, is probably the reason we got interested in Pilates. If you do not execute the exercise correctly and allow your muscles to bunch forward then you are not going to carry out the wide scoop of the abdominal muscles that Pilates aims for. This is what provides you with a balanced abdominal development and the core strength we all want.

You must not allow your abdominal muscles to bunch forward when doing an exercise. This is because the outer abdominal, rectus abdominis, gets shorter when you do this and does not allow you a balanced development or a flat stomach. The characteristic flat stomach of Pilates comes from the scoop of the abs, which is balanced by spine throughout the entire movement.

A good Pilates workout video will help you understand how exercises should be done and imitate them accurately. This is an investment that will help you to make the most of your workout time, and get the results you want.