Pilates is a great series of exercises designed by Joseph Pilates, whose work was long embraced by dancers, acrobats and more-traditional athletes. It's a system designed to stretch, strengthen and balance the entire body. And Pilates is for virtually everyone-from the super-fit to the softened weekend warrior. It can even help people recover from injuries. Once you're comfortable with Pilates, here are some things to keep in mind.

Getting More from Your Pilates:

Breath. Pilates-style breathing is often called "diaphragmatic" breathing. When you inhale, your ribs should move upward and outward; when you exhale, the abdominals should move out and the ribs pull in. It's also important when you do your inhalations and exhalations during class. A certified teacher will be sure you're doing them correctly, but generally the exhalations will be upon exertion and the inhalations will be on movements that are less difficult. It gets oxygen to the muscles at the right time, helps cleanse the body and strengthens abdominal muscles.

Concentration. You can get much more out of your workout if you concentrate on each muscle. For example, when you are doing the criss-cross abdominal exercise, if you focus on the individual side oblique muscle as you rotate, you will feel each one engage at the correct time. It will work the muscle more deeply and give you better results, faster.

Control. Make sure you're doing the exercise properly and with control. There should be no jerking or desperate straining.

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