Organic Liaison promotes an active lifestyle along with an organic lifestyle. We encourage you to MOVE daily, to build lean muscle that will help with weight-loss, and to have fun with your daily workouts.

When it comes to active living, Organic Liaison is about trying new things: new ways to enjoy exercise as a stimulant, not a chore.

With our new blog series, "Adventures in Exercise," we explore the many great exercise programs out there. We'll be providing information on popular as well as less known types of exercise, plus anecdotes of real-life exercise adventures from Organic Liaison members and staff.


Pilates is an exercise regimen that elongates and strengthens the muscles. By correcting posture, Pilates can strengthen your body against future injuries. Developed in the 1920s by physical trainer Joseph H. Pilates, Pilates is an exercise system focused on improving flexibility and strength for the total body.

Is Pilates Right for You?
Fitness experts tend to agree that Pilates is a perfect form of exercise for almost anyone. Although it doesn't deliver a significant cardiovascular workout, its low impact nature makes it a good fit for children, seniors and nearly everyone in between. People with back injuries may also benefit from practicing Pilates as the movements performed to strengthen the back muscles do so without placing pressure on them.
Pilates doesn't rely on high repetition of single movements, but instead, on perfect muscular control and proper form during each session. This focused muscle control - what Pilates called "contrology" - is precisely what delivers result - and in less time than do other forms of exercise.
If Pilates intrigues you, consider taking a Pilates mat class to familiarize yourself with the program before committing to a series of classes or personal instruction. Although Pilates DVDs are widely available, it's strongly recommended that you study first with a certified Pilates instructor in order to learn proper form before you practice on your own.

If you decide that Pilates is right for you, you'll want to do a little research before you commit to a program or instructor.  The information you need to know includes:

1. Is the Pilates instructor correctly trained? Look for studios and teachers that have formal Pilates Instructor Certification.

2. How long has the instructor been teaching? If you're new to Pilates, be sure you find an instructor who has been teaching actively for at least two or three years.

3. Can the instructor handle any special needs? If you have injuries or health conditions like diabetes or heart disease, you'll want to be sure your instructor is knowledgeable about how best to work with you. If you're a senior, try to find instructors who teach seniors regularly.

4. Does the instructor respect your pace? If the instructor pushes you further than is comfortable or tries to force your body into positions it can't achieve, find another instructor. Too much force can result in injury.


"I must be right. Never an aspirin. Never injured a day in my life. The whole country, the whole world, should be doing my exercises. They'd be happier." -- Joseph Hubertus Pilates, in 1965, age 86.

Runner or golfer, tennis player or new mom, chances are you've heard someone talking about the benefits of Pilates. Many types of people, at many levels of fitness, who have begun doing Pilates say that they've seen improvements in range of motion, flexibility, circulation, posture, and abdominal strength, plus reduced back, neck and joint pain.
10 Benefits of Pilates

1. Pilates is Whole-Body Fitness
Unlike some forms of exercise, Pilates does not over-develop some parts of the body and neglect others. While Pilates training focuses on core strength, it trains the body as an integrated whole. Pilates workouts promote strength and balanced muscle development as well as flexibility and increased range of motion for the joints.

Attention to core support and full-body fitness -- including the breath and the mind -- provide a level of integrative fitness that is hard to find elsewhere. It is also the reason that Pilates is so popular in rehabilitative scenarios, as well as with athletes who find that Pilates is a great foundation for any other kind of movement practice they do.

2. Adaptable to Many Fitness Levels and Needs
Whether you are a senior just starting to exercise, an elite athlete, or at some level in between, the foundations of Pilates movement apply to you. Building from core strength, focusing on proper alignment, and a body/mind integrative approach make Pilates accessible to all. With thousands of possible exercises and modifications, Pilates workouts can be tailored to individual needs.

3. Creates Strength Without Bulk
Long, lean muscles are the name of the game here. With Pilates, we are not looking to build muscles for show. We are building toned muscles that work perfectly within the context of the body as a whole and in sync with the functional fitness needs of a person as they move through life.

One of the ways that Pilates creates long, strong muscles is by taking advantage of a type of muscle contraction called an eccentric contraction.

4. Increases Flexibility
In Pilates, we work toward a safe increase in the length and stretch of the muscles and the range of motion within the joints. You won't find quite as much "pretzel logic" in Pilates as you might in yoga. But aiming for a body that can stretch and bend to meet the flow of life is a very realistic goal.

5. Develops Core Strength
The core muscles of the body are the deep muscles of the back, abdomen, and pelvic floor. These are the muscles we rely on to support a strong, supple back, good posture, and efficient movement patterns. When the core is strong, the frame of the body is supported. This means the neck and shoulders can relax, and the rest of the muscles and joints are freed to do their jobs -- and not more. A nice side benefit is that core training promotes the flat abs that we all want.

6. Improves Posture
Good posture is a reflection of good alignment supported by a strong core. It is a position from which one can move freely. Starting with Pilates movement fundamentals and moving through mat and equipment exercises, Pilates trains the body to express itself with strength and harmony. You can see this in the beautiful posture of those who practice Pilates.

7. Increases Energy
It might seem like a paradox, but the more you exercise, the more energy you have and the more you feel like doing (to a point, of course). Pilates gets the breath and circulation moving, stimulates the spine and muscles, and floods the body with the good feelings one gets from exercising the whole body.

8. Promotes Weight Loss and Long, Lean Appearance
If you practice Pilates regularly, it will change your body. Known for creating long, strong muscles and a leaner loo,; Pilates improves muscle tone, balances musculature, supports beautiful posture, and teaches you to move with ease and grace. All of these things will make you look and feel very fit.
If you want to lose weight, the formula for weight loss remains the same: Burn more calories than you take in. As a full-body fitness method, Pilates help will help you do that. Combined with aerobic activity, Pilates becomes a prime weight loss and body toning tool.

9. Increases Awareness - Body/Mind Connection
Joseph Pilates was adamant that Pilates, or "contrology" as he called it, was about "the complete coordination of body, mind, and spirit." This is one of the secrets of Pilates exercise: we practice each movement with total attention. When we exercise in this way, the body and mind unite to bring forth the most benefit possible from each exercise. The Pilates principles - centering, concentration, control, precision, breath, and flow - are key concepts that we use to integrate body and mind.

10. There are Many Ways to Learn Pilates
Pilates instruction is easy to come by these days. The ever-growing popularity of Pilates has put it on the map all over the world. This is good because when you start Pilates training, it is important to start with live Pilates instruction at a studio or gym, and preferably from a certified instructor. But there are a lot of ways to supplement your learning once you get going. You can practice at home and you don't need one bit of fancy equipment, just comfy clothes and a mat.

So, what are you waiting for? Let's get moving!

 Deborah is the Health Director for Organic Liaison, has been a Registered Dietitian for over 16 years, counseling clients on nutrition and fitness, and is the author of 200 Superfoods That Will Save Your Life published by McGraw-Hill, Inc. Her mission is to educate Organic Liaison members to achieve optimal wellness through balanced eating and exercise. For more on Deborah - click here.

Order Deborah's book, 200 Superfoods That Will Save Your Life.
Learn more about Organic Liason at www.OrganicLiason.com

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