Pilates is a form of exercise that was invented by Joseph Pilates. It is a low impact exercise treatment that helps you to develop strength, flexibility and body awareness. It also increases your energy levels which can help with weight loss and has a toning effect on muscles, in addition, it has been shown to improve posture as well as reduce back pain significantly.
Pilates improves physical health through high-intensity workouts without putting excessive pressure or strain on joints such as hips, knees legs etc. You will be able to tone up while improving core stability at the same time Pilates exercises are great for increasing range of motion across all planes especially if done regularly. Pilates training reduces stress by focusing attention internally rather than externally; this allows better control over our mental state allowing us to feel calmer and more relaxed.
The 10 benefits of Pilates include:
1) Strengthening abdominal muscles
A strong core is the foundation of whole-body health. It affects your stability, balance, and posture; facilitates daily activities like bending down or picking up heavy objects and it even makes sports easier to play by improving a player’s strength and power. Having an adequate amount of core strength allows you to do things without thinking about them much because they come naturally with little effort required on your part due to that extra boost given from stronger muscles in other parts of our bodies.
2) Increased hip mobility
Pilates’ smooth movements improve hip joint range of movement, which can help with pain relief and promote joint health. Pilates increases awareness of joints while minimising weight-bearing destructive forces on them.
3) Improved muscle tone
Pilates integrates the whole body and enables you to focus on total muscle development. It is unmatched in improving balance, flexibility, range of motion for joints, as well as toning your muscles without being too challenging or harsh. The Pilates method may be gentle but it requires a lot of concentration because every exercise trains both mind and body together so that awareness increases throughout all different parts of one’s system.
4) Less painful menstrual cramps
One of the main focuses in Pilates exercises is breath, which helps to relieve abdominal tension when you breathe more deeply or consciously. One of your main focuses during a Pilates class is on deep breaths that help bring movement to the diaphragm up and down allowing your stomach muscles to move with it.
5) Reduced lower back pain
Pilates is a beneficial form of exercise for those who are suffering from back pain. It can help strengthen the core muscles which stabilize and support your body, leading to less stress on the lower spine when lifting or moving heavy objects. Pilates also helps you build strength in other areas that were not previously worked out such as arms, legs, shoulders etc., without putting too much strain on any one area like traditional forms of weight-bearing exercises do (this is especially beneficial for the back, which can often be the ‘victim’ of other forms of exercise).
6) Boosts immunity
A body’s waste disposal system, the lymphatic system is responsible for removing metabolic waste from cells. With poor circulation or sluggish metabolism, toxins accumulate in and around your cells.
Instead of having a pump like our circulatory system, the lymphatic system relies on movement and muscle contraction to circulate. This means that Pilates is quite helpful for this part of your immune system because it involves full-body movements, which then stimulate the lymphatic system.
7) Better breathing
To get the most out of Pilates, you should always focus on deep breathing. Joseph Pilates was firm about this; he believed that it is important to exhale deeply instead of just taking a quick breath in order to use your core muscles more efficiently and maximize results.
When you inhale and exhale deeply, it stimulates the internal organs. When this happens, your heart gets going which increases circulation throughout the body; thus increasing blood flow carrying oxygen to every cell in addition to removing waste products from cells.
8 ) Enhanced athletic performance
Pilates is ideal for athletes because it produces efficient movement. This benefit, especially advantageous in endurance sports like triathlon, helps prevent overuse and potential injury.
Pilates is a great way to stay in shape and avoid injury. A good Pilates instructor will notice imbalances before they become problems, make flexibility gains quickly, strengthen muscles that are too often neglected by other training methods, and prevent overuse injuries caused by excess strain on certain muscle groups.
9 ) Weight loss
You won’t leave class feeling like you’ve just completed a HIIT workout, but your muscles will feel the burn during each session. Whilst Pilates is great for tightening up your core and improving muscle tone in the stomach, it can’t specifically reduce fat in certain areas.
Pilates, however, has been shown to increase your total caloric expenditure from whatever your baseline is, by as much as 300-400 calories. If you consume fewer calories than you intake, you should lose weight. Pilates is a great exercise that can help you get in shape and lose weight, but it also offers many more benefits.
10 ) Reduced stress levels
Pilates is a mindful form of exercise that focuses on intentional and aware movements rather than ones with just the goal to work out. The skill you learn from Pilates can be beneficial in your everyday life too! Learning how to be mindful can have an impact in your daily life because it helps sharpen mental performance and helps make you feel more relaxed.
Pilates is an incredible workout that can provide many benefits to anyone who tries it. If you’re not sure if Pilates is the right type of exercise for your goals, then come in and try some sessions with me! You’ll experience firsthand just how much a few exercises each day will help you feel better both mentally and physically. In addition to all these great health benefits, I also offer classes multiple times during the week so there’s always a convenient option for everyone. Booking a class couldn’t be easier – simply call me on 07745 152935 today! I hope this blog post has encouraged you to take advantage of what Pilates has to offer and given some insight into why it is loved by so many.