Pilates offers a low-impact workout that can be modified for people of all abilities and fitness levels it can also help you strengthen and tone muscles, improve flexibility and promote joint mobility.
The practice also helps you develop symmetry and coordination and promotes good posture and alignment those gains can translate into everyday life and boost your confidence. Join Pilates classes at pilates northridge mind and motion transform your body, improve flexibility and boost your overall well-being
1. Increased Core Strength
Pilates strengthens your muscles without bulking them up, making it ideal for toning the entire body. The core is strengthened and becomes a frame that supports your back, hips and shoulders, reducing muscle fatigue from other workouts and daily activities (think carrying grocery bags).
A strong core also improves posture. It brings awareness to your alignment and strengthens neglected postural muscles. The controlled stretching movements also increase your mobility. Mobility is a combination of flexibility and strength, which is important for functional movement and reducing injury risk.
2. Increased Flexibility
Pilates’ emphasis on precision and control translates into better flexibility, especially in the muscles around the joints. This increase in mobility protects muscle and tendon health, helping you avoid injuries.
This increased balance and proprioception can also improve your ability to perform daily tasks such as sitting up from a chair or picking up a heavy box. This is because strong core muscles and good posture can help you to maintain stable movement patterns in dynamic exercises, as well as in everyday activities.
Additionally, the breathing focus of Pilates helps reduce stress and may ease long-term symptoms of chronic tension like anxiety and depression.
3. Improved Balance
Whether you’re an athlete or simply someone looking for an effective and low-impact workout, Pilates offers many health benefits. It strengthens the core, increases flexibility and improves posture. It also stimulates the digestive process and can decrease abdominal discomfort.
It improves balance by strengthening smaller muscles groups and stabilizing muscle groups such as the ones in your trunk, says Heather Milton, CSCS, a clinical exercise physiologist at NYU Langone Health in New York City (who was not involved in this study). This can reduce falls, especially as you get older (1, 2).
However, Milton emphasizes that it’s important to perform Pilates as part of a balanced workout routine. This means pairing it with strength training and aerobic exercise 2-3 times per week.
4. Reduced Risk of Injury
The controlled movements in Pilates help you improve your balance and posture. These moves also strengthen muscles on both sides of your body, which can reduce the risk of injuries and improve mobility.
Injuries often occur because weaker muscles overcompensate for stronger ones during movement, but Pilates focuses on building muscle balance that decreases injury risk. This technique may also ease lower back pain.
In addition to reducing injury risks, Pilates offers many benefits for all people, regardless of age or fitness level. However, you should always get a doctor’s okay before starting any exercise routine.
5. Reduced Stress
Pilates helps to reduce stress levels and increase feelings of wellbeing. The controlled movements and deep breathing techniques of Pilates help to promote a sense of calm by decreasing the production of stress hormones.
It also increases the body’s ability to regulate hormones that can negatively affect health, such as cortisol. As a result, your body will be better equipped to cope with life’s daily stresses.
6. Increased Mindfulness
Pilates helps you to improve your focus both on and off the mat. This is because it encourages mindfulness. Mindfulness is a state of awareness that allows you to be fully present in the moment.
It takes concentration and control to perform a Pilates exercise properly. This is what sets it apart from other exercises.
The Pilates method teaches you to move with your core, to be aware of your body and its alignment, and to focus on breath. These skills can be transferred into everyday life, such as being more mindful of your posture while you walk or pick up your shopping bags.
7. Increased Energy
Pilates gets the lymph fluid flowing throughout the body, which helps to flush out toxins. Joseph Pilates designed his workouts to be mindful and slow, so they are great for promoting this important body function.
The core strength and stability that comes from Pilates can also help reduce the risk of injury. This is particularly true if you incorporate it into your regular training routine, a study in PeerJ found.
Although Pilates is a low impact workout, you should still talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise program, especially if you have any medical issues. He or she may recommend you take it easy to begin with until your body is ready for more intense work.