Top 5 Pilate's Tips Straight from the Trainers

Sometimes, it isn't just the crazy trends, like ridiculous clothing, public drunkeness, and the latest gadgets, that celebrities and common folk alike become addicted to.

Sometimes, it's the one of the healthiest activities you can take up for your body's sake, like Pilates. Hillary Duff, the latest celebrity to endorse this fitness regime, touts that her body changed in three weeks and that Pilates makes her feel long, lean, and powerful. She attends Pilates classes three to four times a week when she's not on the road, and for her, it took 12 sessions to see the phenomenal results that got her hooked.

Pilates trainers from across the country rave about the changes that they see in their clients' bodies, whether they're working with an actor/singer/model, or a regular guy from down the street. Incorporating Pilates techniques into your regular routine is the key to seeing results.

Here are 5 Top Pilates Tips, straight from the Trainers:

1. Stand Tall

Draw into your centerline and grow tall, says Connie Borho, National Teacher Trainer for Peak Pilates. "My clients always comment about how they can hear my voice 'saying abs in and up, ribs in and down' whenever they find themselves slouching. Not only is their posture better, but their abdominals are becoming more and more pulled in and slim-looking." Find Borho at Balance Pilates & Yoga Center in Bradenton, FL.

2. Pull your Shoulders Back and Down

"Most of clients need much more work on the shoulders than I ever imagined, especially those who spend a lot of time sitting hunched over the computer," says Victoria Leonard of Beau Corps Studio in Tustin, CA. To alleviate shoulder hunch allow the chest to open, so that your shoulders will drop back slightly. Remember to do this when sitting, standing and walking!

Christine Binnendyk, author of Ageless Pilates, recommends keeping your armpits low. "That tricks the body into lowering your shoulders, giving you a graceful appearance."

3. Get your Pelvis In Line