What do Jennifer Aniston and David Beckham have in common? Well, apart from the fact that they’ve certainly found of the fountain youth, they both swear by Pilates. From models to athletes, Pilates has been a popular workout practice for decades. It was invented in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates and has now gained widespread popularity.
Pilates mostly involves endurance movements and low-impact flexibility. It focuses on core strength, postural alignment and muscle balance. Are you thinking about including Pilates in your exercise regime? That’s a fantastic idea! Pilates has a multitude of benefits to offer. Let’s take a look.
It’s adaptable
Pilates isn’t an exercise that’s just suitable for a specific body type or lifestyle. Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast or someone who hasn’t ever stepped in a gym, Pilates can still work for you. Pilates movements can be adjusted according to your fitness levels and any medical conditions.
Whole-body workout
Unlike some forms of exercise that focus on certain body parts, Pilates focuses on the entire body. A Pilates workout puts every muscle of your body to work. The foundation of Pilates helps build core strength and improves full-body fitness.
Bulk isn’t the focus
If you’re reluctant to workout thinking it will make you gain muscles, Pilates is the perfect solution for you. Pilates isn’t for bulking up. Rather it tones and strengthens your muscles.
Increases flexibility
In Pilates, movements are targeted towards lengthening muscles and improving range of joint mobility. It increases overall flexibility, helping your body stretch and move better.
Proper posture
As mentioned earlier, Pilates encourages good posture. A good posture is achieved with a focus on proper alignment and with the support of a strong core. It takes your body through movements and trains your body into a good posture. Once you start doing Pilates, good posture will become second nature. This is why it also helps with back pain.
Enhances core strength
The muscles in the back, abdomen and pelvic floor make up the core muscles of your body. The entire framework of your body relies on your core strength. And the fundamentals of Pilates work to enhance your core.
And if you have always dreamed of having a set of washboard abs, Pilates is an incredible workout to achieve that!
Raises energy levels
It might sound ironic, but the more you workout the more energised you feel. In particular, doing a Pilates workout stimulates your entire body, activates your mind and improves circulation. It’s an invigorating exercise.
Elongates
Pilates is the answer if you desire an elongated and lean body. As it improves posture, it makes you appear taller. Apart from creating strong and lean muscles, Pilates movements also promote weight loss.
Controlled movements
Unlike some workout regimes involving hammer throwing and ropes, Pilates doesn’t rough it up. Rather it involves slow, controlled movements. However, it doesn’t make it any less strenuous so don’t underestimate it. Pilates is one of the most difficult and demanding workouts.
Improves focus
Physical fitness and improvement isn’t the only advantage of Pilates. It also does wonders for your mind. It urges you to focus on your breathing and mindfully observe every body movement.
Accessibility
The popularity of Pilates has spread globally. You can easily find a Pilates studio in your neighbourhood. If you’re interested in Pilates, check out Bodytonic Clinic for an affordable drop-in class to decide if it’s for you or not. Even if you don’t have one near you, there are several Youtube fitness channels sharing apartment-friendly Pilates workouts.
Assists other workouts
You can combine Pilates with other workout styles to achieve your fitness goals. Pilates is versatile enough to complement other regimes.
We hope this post helped you learn more about Pilates and its glorious benefits. Time to sweat, eh?