Any form of exercise can create more energy, muscle strength, improve strength, flexibility and mobility. However, when the majority of people think of exercise, the first association is often an all-out, high-intensity approach to movement, such as running, cycling, or lifting heavy weights to benefit the full body.
This type of exercise might be right for some, but if this does not include you, we’re excited to let you know that both Pilates and Yoga are some of the best methods to exercise, condition and care for your body.
Today, we’re detailing the benefit of Pilates in particular. As women, we’re so passionate about the positive health benefits this practice can bring.
Pilates includes slow, controlled movements that will benefit everyone, from a complete beginner to advanced. Although, we are not all about the classical Pilates style invented by Joseph Pilates, as we like to include faster movement to look after cardio health too.
Just a few weeks of Pilates will bring some fantastic changes and benefits! It will help you feel good in mind and body.
The Benefits of Pilates
Pilates Improves Core Strength
When we mention core muscles, you might think of a chiselled six pack, and this is absolutely fine if you want it. For us, we know this goal is completely unmaintainable.
Along with this goal comes an extreme workout regime and an ultra boring diet of chicken breast and broccoli. No thanks! We love pasta and pizza way too much.
For us, the goal of a six pack is also a goal of misery.
You can have a strong core without the external six pack, and in our minds, these benefits are far greater. A strong core will translate into a better quality of your daily life. Your strong core helps you in every single movement, your core holds your posture, helps you bend, stand, and pick stuff up.
Pilates Strengthens Pelvic Floor
Pilates trains the deep abdominal muscles, like the transversus abdominis and multifidus. These muscles are often underdeveloped and the rectus abdominis (six pack muscles) are usually overworked. The deeper muscles are what help to maintain pelvic floor health, especially important for women during and after pregnancy and also through hormonal changes. We go into more detail over here.
Pilates Improves Posture
Pilates movements train the muscles that help your body stand up straight and upright. After just a few weeks of Pilates, you will feel the difference in your posture. Improved posture not only feels great physically it also helps you feel more confident.
Pilates Prevents Injuries
If you are performing all of your Pilates exercises safely and following all of the instructions provided by your Pilates instructor, the chances of injury are rather low, which cannot be said for almost any other physical activity.
Pilates can also be used as a method to regain strength after injury or as a preventative measure if there are any underlying issues or limitations. This is known as clinical Pilates, you can read more about it over here.
Pilates Builds Long and Lean Muscles
Pilates will help you build strength. It’s not going to give you massive biceps. If this is your goal you will need to lift heavy weights.
Same with the big booty goals. If you’re hoping to create the Kim K beauty trend Pilates is not your answer. That big butt is normally due to genetics or some heavy weight lifting, and sometimes plastic surgery. Our ethos is to say no to beauty trends. Your butt, small or big, flat or round is a great butt!
Pilates Improves Flexibility
Pilates has been a favourite of dancers for decades, and there is an excellent reason for that. Pilates strengthens and stretches all of the muscles within your body, even the small ones, which are often overlooked and not targeted by other physical activities. Both these factors, the strength, flexibility, together create a greater range of motion within joints. It won’t take long, as you continue your Pilates practice you will notice your flexibility increasing.
If you’d like to try a class that will help create total body flexibility this is the class for you!
Pilates Can Reduce Stress
With stress levels at all times highs, anything that helps to reduce your stress is an added bonus! All exercise will pump the feel-good hormones like dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins however, the thing with many exercises like HIIT, cross fit, weight lifting and even running, more stress can be created within the body. Whereas Pilates, as it is deeply connected to the breath and being present with movement, can act as a great tool to de-stress the mind and the body. This can then go on to have a chemical reaction by helping to reduce cortisol within the body.
Pilates Can Help to Manage a Healthy Weight
Within our Yoga and Pilates membership, we don’t focus on weight loss and the external body. Yes, it’s all part of it, and there are many reasons why a healthy weight is important BUT with our diet culture and thin obsessed culture, we choose to focus on other aspects of exercise. Weight management will come with a regular movement practise, and it’s important to know that everyone’s healthy weight is different.
Ultimately, the best way to learn more about the benefits of Pilates is to try it out. The great news, is we’ve got a free class waiting for you! It’s called ‘Feel Amazing Pilates’ and this is exactly how you will feel after completing it.
All you need to do is sign up OVER HERE with your name and email address and we will send the class directly to your inbox! Once you do the class, let us know all about it.
Always merrymaking,
Emma + Carla