Improve your workout with Pilates

Whether you want to lose weight, tone up, run a marathon, bulk up, improve your sports performance or simply bring your general fitness to another level, anyone can benefit when incorporating Pilates exercises or just the principles into their routine.

Here are some reasons why you should think about adding a little bit of time of your daily routine (I’m sure you exercise every day!) and include some pilates exercises in there:

Pilates is Whole-Body Fitness

Unlike some forms of exercise, Pilates does not over-develop some parts of the body and neglect others. While Pilates training focuses on core strength, it trains the body as an integrated whole. Pilates exercises promote strength and balanced muscle development as well as flexibility and increased range of motion for the joints.

Attention to core support and full-body fitness — including the breath and the mind — provide a level of integrative fitness that is hard to find elsewhere. It is also the reason that Pilates is so popular in rehabilitative scenarios, as well as with athletes who find that Pilates is a great foundation for any other kind of movement practice they do.

Adaptable to Many Fitness Levels and Needs

Whether you are a senior just starting to exercise, an elite athlete or somewhere in between, the foundations of Pilates movement apply to you. Building from core strength, focusing on proper alignment, and a body/mind integrative approach make Pilates accessible to all. With thousands of possible exercises and modifications, Pilates workouts can be tailored to individual needs.

Creates Strength (without bulk for those looking not to)

Long, lean muscles are the name of the game here. We are building toned muscles that work perfectly within the context of the body as a whole, and the functional fitness needs of a person as they move through life.

One of the ways that Pilates creates long, strong muscles is by taking advantage of a type of muscle contraction called an eccentric contraction.

Increases Flexibility

In Pilates, we work toward a safe increase in length and stretch of the muscles and range of motion within the joints.

Develops Core Strength

The core muscles of the body are the deep muscles of the back, abdomen, and pelvic floor. These are the muscles we rely on to support a strong, supple back, good posture, and efficient movement patterns. When the core is strong, the frame of the body is supported. This means the neck and shoulders can relax, and the rest of the muscles and joints are freed to do their jobs – and not more. A nice side benefit is that the core training promotes the flat abs that we all desire.

Improves Posture

Good posture is a reflection good alignment supported by a strong core. It is a position from which one can move freely.

Increases Energy

It might seem like a paradox, but the more you exercise, the more energy you have and the more you feel like doing (to a point, of course). Pilates gets the breath and circulation moving, stimulates the spine and muscles, and floods the body with the good feelings one gets from exercising the whole body.

Promotes Weight Loss and Long, Lean Appearance

If you practice Pilates regularly, it will change your body. Known for creating long, strong muscles and a leaner look; Pilates improves muscle tone, balances musculature, supports beautiful posture, and teaches you to move with ease and grace. All of these things will make you look and feel very fit.

If you want to lose weight, the formula for weight loss remains the same: Burn more calories than you take in (really, simple as that!). As a full-body fitness method, Pilates help will help you do that. Combined with aerobic activity, Pilates becomes a prime weight loss and body toning tool.

Increases Awareness – Body/Mind Connection

Joseph Pilates (the creator of the method) was adamant that Pilates, or contrology as he called it, was about “the complete coordination of body, mind, and spirit.” This is one of the secrets of Pilates exercise: we practice each movement with total attention. When we exercise in this way, the body and mind unite to bring forth the most benefit possible from each exercise. The Pilates principles — centering, concentration, control, precision, breath, and flow — are key concepts that we use to integrate body and mind.

There are Many Ways to Learn Pilates

You can practice at home and you don’t need one bit of fancy equipment, just comfy clothes and a mat. You can do it in the gym using a ball, a bar, a pull up bar, a bench… Anything.

You don’t need to add a specific exercise to get the benefits from this method. If you apply the principles from Pilates (centering, concentration, control, precision, breath, and flow) on your routine it will make a huge difference already.