I'm considering Pilates... for those of you who've tried it, do you think it works? My goal is a longer, leaner, more toned body but I don't want to look like a body builder!
I noticed my body change after two weeks of pilates when I did it 3 times a week. I stopped doing it because I got busy...no exscuse I know. But I really like Windsor Pilates, I just have one dvd. It was really hard the first time but got easier the next few times. I hope this helps. It probably helps to switch up you routine a little bit. I was doing pilates and walking. But the pilates did much better than just walking alone.
Definitely not a workout that will make you look like a body builder! I use a Pilates For Dummies tape every other day and I really enjoy it. I mainly started using it for some flexibility and have noticed a very nice increase in my flexibility. It is a good, low impact workout and great if you're going for that lean, toned look. I highly recommend it.
You will NOT get a body builder's body with Pilates does Oprah have a BB's body? I think not! What's wrong with a bodybuilders's body anyways? They look so healthy and strong IMHO... but I guess I'm biased...
I took a Pilates class last semester, and I loved it! Don't forget though that Pilates is NOT cardio, so you will need to do cardio in addition to it (Pilates is strengthening mostly). It was hard at first, but I definitely could feel changes in my body as I built up muscles. I'm thinking about taking another class this summer. What I like the most about Pilates is the idea of using your own body as resistance for strengthening.
BTW, if you're worried about bulking up -- it's physically impossible for most women (and a lot of men) to achieve the "bulky" look that a lot of bodybuilders have. Our muscles just aren't designed that way. You need to already have a body type that will allow bulking up before you can do it, and it takes hours and hours of weight training even then. My boyfriend has been trying to "bulk up" for years, but once he gets to a certain point, the muscles just don't get any bigger!
My experience with Pilates is biased. I managed to find the worst instructor in the world obviously, as after about 5 classes (2 times/week) I noticed that my pants did not zipper up anymore. After talking to him I found out that instead of pulling belly button into the body on exhale, I was pushing it out, and that external abdominals grow very fast. Started to do it right and noticed that my Jeans zipper up again...
So my point is - find a good instructor first, and afterwards you can do WIndsor pilates at home if you want to save money. I personally call pilates my abs workout and that is how I count it. It is not cardio, it is quite good stretching but still not as good as yoga. It will help you with your abs and thights and prbably upper arms, but you have to do something else with it. And it will not make any bulk (what is bulk in women anyways?)
I'm a body builder than does pilates to help my chronically sore back. Why wouldn't you want to look like a body builder? My body fat is 14% and I wear a size 2-4 jeans. I hardly look bulky What you don't want to look like is a FAT body builder. What most women think of as bulk is really a layer of fat over muscles, not the muscle itself.
Perez, trust me, Mel looks amazing. The kind of body builder you are thinking of are the ones that take steroids. Mel and those who work as hard as she does look fantastic...we would be lucky to look that good!
Pilates will not bulk up most of your muscles, though if you are thin, you might get some washboard abs out of the deal if you did Pilates often, I would think.
It's a great workout...your whole body feels stretched, lean, and glowing with health when you finish. I love it!!! You do a great deal of work lying on your back or side, which makes it ideal if you have a sore back, but you definitely get a workout!
I love Denise Austin's Yoga/Pilates video...it has a 20 minute workout that's easy to fit in but definitely has you sweating!
Thanks for all the replies. I apologize if I offended anyone with my "don't wanna look like a body builder" comment.. I meant that I don't want to look like a FAT body builder..or one of those guys on the "World's Strongest Man" competitions..
But thanks ladies, it sounds pretty good to me. I'm doing ellipticals and the treadmill for cardio, and Curves, but I want something to help flatten my belly (I had a C-section)... guess this'll be a start, though it'll probably help when I lose all the excess weight!
Just a reminder Perisez, that abs are made in the kitchen, meaning that you must have very good nutrition in order for the fat to melt away to show those muscles...because if you don't have good nutrition ei: lean proteins, unprocessed carbs, lots of veggies and fruits, lots of water... all the exercise in the world will not help to flatten those abs...there is no such thing as spot reduction...
Also, no offense taken by anyone I'm positive of that, we all have shoulders that are way to wide and we can take a lot of cwap, and this is all because of bodybuilding OF COURSE ...
Just my 2 cents worth: I bough a Pilates DVD but I don't do it much because it is not cardio and also not weightlifting. For my abs I find that weighted abs crunches on LBW days also do the trick, in fact I could do the entire DVD without getting out of breath.
So I think it is for relaxation and for getting more flexible maybe.
I love pilates. I use it for abs mostly. its great for the core muscles. I do it with cardio because I have a lot of weight to lose but I definatley thnk it is a good addition to any work out schedule.
I also think it is a great addition to your regular workout routine. I used to take reformer classes and loved them. I started moving towards doing more yoga and mat pilates in it's place because those classes are free at my gym where as reformer classes cost extra.
Pilates... what do y'all think?
IMHO... but I guess I'm biased...
What you don't want to look like is a FAT body builder. What most women think of as bulk is really a layer of fat over muscles, not the muscle itself.
Mel and those who work as hard as she does look fantastic...we would be lucky to look that good! 
