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Core Workouts
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Pilates classes are taught by instructors and can be found in gyms,
private studios, community education centers, and schools. You can
also find Pilates classes online or on DVDs, so you could work out at
home while watching a video. Some people like working out alone at
home while others need the company of a class. Some Pilates classes
use special equipment, and some just need a floor mat.
Pilates is popular. People like the variation in movement Pilates of-
fers. You’re not just doing repetitions of the same exercises over and
over again. Pilates also includes a focus on what’s going on in the brain
during exercise. Teachers tell their students to concentrate on breathing
and their muscle movements.
Yoga is another exercise method, though it is good for a lot more
than just core workouts. Yoga unites the body and mind, and was first
practiced in ancient India. Today, people use yoga both as a spiritual
practice—a way to calm the mind and achieve peace—and as exercise.
There are many different styles of yoga. Some are slower and more
meditative, like yin yoga or restorative yoga. Other styles are more
Research Project
Find some more core exercises online. You should be able to
f ind full descriptions of several different exercises, including
photos, drawings, and videos. Search for a few that you think
look fun and would work for you. Bookmark the websites you
f ind or write down the exercises so that you can put them together into a
core workout. Next, do the exercises for a month. Keep a journal recording
how long you exercise and exactly what you do. Record in your journal any
differences you notice in your body. At the end of the month, make a deci-
sion about whether you want to continue the exercises and why.