Pilates Promotes Strength, Endurance, and Flexibility

As a trainer to celebrities such as Missy Elliott and Sean "Diddy" Combs , Mark Jenkins has helped many of them reshape their bodies. One exercise system Mark Jenkins uses as a trainer is Pilates. 

This popular fitness regimen was developed by Joseph Pilates during World War I. While tending to wounded British soldiers, Pilates attached springs to the beds. Exercising against these springs improved the soldiers' muscle tone. This was the origin of the reformer, a sliding-platform device used in Pilates classes.

The technique focuses on precise movements, breathing, and proper posture to elongate the body rather than shorten it and bulk it up. 

A Pilates workout strengthens the body’s core - the back, pelvic, and abdominal muscles, resulting in increased energy. The program builds stamina, flexibility, and control, with the added benefit of reducing back pain.

Although it has a reputation as a tool for dancers and athletes only, Pilates can promote mental and physical fitness for everyone. While classes generally use the reformer, many Pilates exercises require only a mat.

As with any fitness method, persons who have not exercised in a long time or are elderly or pregnant should first consult a doctor. It may not be suitable for those with a history of blood clots, unstable blood pressure, a herniated disk, or severe osteoporosis. Beginners should always train with a Pilates instructor.

How to Fit a Workout into a Busy Schedule

A personal fitness trainer, Mark Jenkins has helped many of the world’s top celebrities, including LL Cool J, Susan Taylor, Missy Elliott, and Busta Rhymes, achieve their fitness goals from his base in New York City. Publications regularly seek Mark Jenkins’ expertise as a high-level trainer, including tips on how to fit a workout into a demanding schedule.

With all of life’s demands, it can be all too easy to skip a workout in order to accomplish another task. To avoid losing out on the health benefits of regular exercise, here are some tips for accommodating exercise despite an on-the-go schedule:

- Work out early in the morning - before life’s demands get in the way.

- Sometimes commuting can be a workout. Consider riding a bike or running to work.

- Office breaks can also be exercise breaks. Step away from the desk to stretch, walk, or complete a brief bodyweight workout. Exercise breaks at work often also bring the added benefits of improved productivity and mental clarity.

- Install a home gym for easy access to exercise. It eliminates the time needed to commute to a gym, get changed, and return home or to work.