Pilates exercises are part of a fitness method started by Joseph Pilates in the early 1900s. This popular workout trend teaches awareness of breathing while focusing on the alignment of the spine. Pilates target back and abdominal -- or "core" muscles -- but is also effective for toning the legs, arms, shoulders and glutes.

The exercises are often performed on a piece of equipment called a reformer, but can also be done on a mat without equipment. During these Pilates classes, you'll perform non-weight bearing moves that use your body weight to tone your muscles. All Pilates exercises have numerous benefits, including increasing both strength and flexibility, while also improving lung capacity.

Pilates classes are available at most gyms. Still, finding the right instructor can be the key to success. Certified instructors will give clear and precises directions that focus on correct body positioning and breathing. It's the instructor's job to accurately demonstrate the exercises for you and to give you cues that make the movements easy to understand.

Pilates exercises are great for both beginners and advanced exercisers. Instructors should provide modifications for the exercises and offer some individual instruction to ensure you are performing the moves in a way that is both safe and effective. Injured students should be able to participate with these modifications, too.

Think Pilates might be right for you? Learn more about how Pilates gives the gain without the pain.

Power yoga is an exercise-based approach to traditional yoga. Based loosely on the Ashtanga style of yoga, power yoga is a vigorous vinyasa-style practice that was designed as a means to get fitness-minded westerners interested in yoga. Power yoga sessions do not follow a specific sequence of poses, and subsequently practices can vary greatly between classes and instructors. However, every practice is based on the fundamental goal of increasing flexibility and strength through physically challenging postures.

Postures in power yoga are typically linked together by a sequence called a vinyasa, which includes downward dog and upward dog. The purpose of a vinyasa is to create heat and energy in the body and to "refresh" the muscles after the previous pose. Power yoga sessions often also focus on a style of breathing called Ujjayi breath, a strong breathing technique that forces air through the back of the throat.

Unlike most traditional yoga practices, which focus on the spiritual and meditative aspects of the poses, power yoga is more focused on the physical aspect of the session, and it is most often used as a means to get fit or lose weight rather than achieve enlightenment.

More Yoga Terms Defined from That's Fit:
Ashtana Yoga
Kundalini Yoga
Hatha Yoga

How would you like one exercise that works your whole body, requires no equipment, is easy to learn and is fun to do? Consider the bear crawl.

"The bear crawl engages many muscle groups including the shoulders, core and quads," said Crystal McReynolds, a coach at CrossFit Central.

To do the bear crawl, simply drop onto all fours with your hands directly under your shoulders, then rise up onto your feet. Now you're in the bear position! You can move forward and backward more quickly than in a standard crawl, and you'll work every major muscle group in the process.

Photo: Globus

They're a regular fixture in physiotherapy clinics, and serious athletes and body builders have turned to them to help beat muscle fatigue, so will an electronic muscle simulator (EMS) help you take your workout to the next level? That's the question The New York Times recently asked NYC physical therapist Brendan Toner.

An EMS sends an electrical current through the muscle, causing it to contract, and they're most often used to relieve pain. But these days, they serve a few other functions -- like rejuvenating muscles after a tough workout, easing muscles spasms and strengthening weak muscles. Sounds like they're pretty useful -- but at $500 to $900 for a portable unit (the kind you use outside of a physio clinic), you'll want to be sure before you pick one up.

So what can it do for you? An EMS will help you fend off muscle fatigue that comes from an intense workout, as well as ease any muscle spasms. And, according to a study from the 2005 Journal of the American Physical Therapy Association, using a portable unit is just as effective as using the clinic one. It can also help you strengthen weak muscles, but Toner is quick to point out that it shouldn't be used in place of strength training, and the best way to increase strength is still by working out.

The bottom line? If you're really serious about your workout and have a few hundred to spend, one of these could really help your recovery. However, I suspect most of us will stick to stretching.

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. I have a question for you. A while back you answered a question from a man who had been slacking off and needed to shape up fast for a beach trip. I printed out your advice, and started doing it (lots of push-ups, pull-ups, lunges, squats and cardio). But then I wondered if you would give different advice to a woman. So, what's a fast shape-up program for a relatively thin and healthy woman? And especially one that can be done at home with a minimum of equipment. Thanks! Judy

A. Thanks for the great question, Judy. I'm so happy to hear that you've printed out my advice and have been using it. Makes me feel worthy! I don't, however, have a more "female" workout for you. Look, everyone is different and often a woman's needs are different than a man's. But usually, they're only different when dealing with pregnancy, postpartum or menopause-type issues.

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Using a small fitness ball, Fitz demonstrates three simple ab training exercises that will leave your entire midsection trembling. The workouts are simple, but intense!

For more innovative training videos, healthy recipes and Celebrity Fitzness interviews visit Fitzness.com.

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I have to admit that I'm a skeptic when it comes to any exercise that promises rapid change. However, while I haven't done this move that promises thinner thighs in three weeks for the full three weeks, I can promise that it works all the right muscles.

• Stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width. If you have a body bar, great -- hold it across your shoulders with a wide grip. I don't have a body bar, so I held five pounds weights in each hand (with my hands held at my sides).
• Bend your left knee and squat down on your left side, keeping your right leg straight until you feel a stretch in your right inner thigh.
• Tighten your butt and push up with your left thigh muscle until you reach a standing position.
• Repeat with your right leg. Do 10 reps on each side.

Check out AOL Health for more leg exercises.

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Sex and a trip to the gym have a few things in common They both get you hot. They both get you sweaty. And both get you breathing a little harder.

While it certainly can't replace your regular workout (bummer!), sex does have its fitness benefits. What a good thing to know just before Valentine's Day!

Fitness Magazine details 10 different positions and the strengthening perks of each. Missionary (if you put a little gusto into it) can be good for your core. Doggy style gives your quads and your glutes a workout. Check out their slideshow for more details. (Be warned, though. The illustrations may be mere outlines, but they're still probably not safe for work.) And don't forget to check out AOL Health for some tips on keeping the bedroom action alive and kicking.

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There's no doubt that push-ups can make a dramatic impact on your physique. They're challenging, work a ton of muscle groups and can be done absolutely anywhere. There's also a bunch of ways you can get creative with them. In this video, Fitz and her team demo a few fun ideas for push-up training with a partner.

For more fun training videos, recipes and celebrity fitness interviews visit Fitzness.com

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If you're used to pounding the pavement, here's an easy way to mix up your routine and reap some additional benefits.

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Liz Neporent is a diet and fitness expert and author of 12 fitness bestsellers. She regularly appears on national TV programs and is the president of Wellness 360, a New-York based wellness provider.

OMG!! I am really freaking out about the economy! Every day you read about staggering layoffs, another company tanking or some index you've-never-heard-of-but-it-seems-really-important hitting a 27-year low. Even those of us who still have jobs are cutting back on spending because we're so twitchy about the future.

As scary as it is out there and as important as it is to save your pennies for the economic monsoon that's probably coming, this is not the time to neglect your workouts. You need to be as fit and resilient as possible to weather the tough times ahead; the last thing you need is to get sick or find yourself without the strength and stamina to go about your day. All well and good, but how do you justify the price of a gym membership when buying bread is now a major investment for many of us?

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Sounds? Yep. These four sounds will let you know you're doing the right thing in your workouts, and if you're not making them ... you'll need to up your game so you start!

For healthy cooking tips from a wellness chef, yoga basics, and more innovative training videos ...

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Sasha Cohen turned to yoga when she retired from competitive skating after the 2006 Olympics, mainly because her mother had begun practicing and found that it really relieved the pain in her shoulder and back. Now, not only does the figure skater love yoga for the way it makes her feel, but it also has given her something she might not have ever found elsewhere -- another chance at Olympic glory.

Cohen practices four or five times a week, and has really benefited in terms of strength. Although she was already very flexible, and had strong legs from skating, her upper body and core were somewhat weak. Not any more. Plus, she's finding that she has more balance (which, you know, is kind of important in figure skating). She said, "The best thing about yoga -- as opposed to the gym or weights -- is that you have to use your own body, and it makes you really aware of all the connections and how to balance yourself."

The petite skater is rethinking her retirement. Because yoga has helped her gain strength -- she's stronger than she's ever been -- she's considering trying out for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. "I am training right now to see if I can get back to the place I want to be. I just don't want to rush my decision."

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Some women may think exercise is boring. If only they knew some core strengthening moves have the possibility of leading to an orgasm.

Sounds like a myth, doesn't it? But Women's Health has quotes from a number of women who swear that they've experienced the elusive "coregasm." Since these women have nobody to please but themselves, I think it's safe to say they're not faking it. And experts agree that it's possible.

Ladies, we can't all pull off multiples and we may not all be capable of coregasms, either. But if you want to give it a try, Women's Health has a series of moves that have worked for other women. At the very least, you'll be strengthening your core. At best, you'll finish your workout with a smile on your face.

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Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hi Fitz! I've come across a couple articles recently that are dead-set against prolonged cardio multiple times a week. They suggest that High Intensity Interval Training or low intensity activity only a few times a week at most, alongside regular weight training, is the only way to lose fat and stay fit. I don't think I could live without long runs or my favorite aerobics class. What do you think? Thanks, Samantha

A. Hi Samantha! Thanks for the great question. I'm sure it's on the minds of many. Bottom line, the folks who said that are over-opinionated. Think about Lance Armstrong, the guy does massive amounts of cardio each week and is the picture of health. So do I ... and so do most runners, cyclists, boxers, kickboxers, soccer players and more.

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