7 Benefits of Pilates
If you’re looking for a workout that strengthens your entire body, including your mind, then Pilates might turn out to be your new favorite thing! Created by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century, the Pilates method focuses on stability, strength, and balance. It can be tailored to any fitness level, and there’s something for everyone to enjoy and be challenged with.
There are many benefits of doing Pilates regularly (lots more than 7!), but we wanted to share a few highlights for anyone curious to learn more about why Pilates is a great exercise option.
None of the following content is professional medical advice, and it should not be considered as such. It is recommended that those with preexisting health conditions consult their physician before beginning a new exercise program.
Focus on Core Strength
Your core (abdominal muscles and muscles surrounding the spine) is the center of all movement. This includes the deep abdominal muscles, not just the “six pack” abs. When the core is strong and pliable, it stabilizes the rest of the body’s movements in exercise and in your daily life.
Pilates exercises strengthen the core by moving and providing resistance from all different angles of movement. Many Pella Pilates clients have commented that they have noticed their core getting stronger when they can now do an activity (e.g., raking leaves, hiking, getting out of bed) with greater ease or less pain!
Joint Mobility
Stiff joints are often the cause of aches and pains, even if caused by sitting for long periods of time. Pilates helps to increase the flexibility and elasticity of joints through slow and controlled movements. Pliable joints aid in decreasing pain, inflammation, and injury risk. When your joints are more mobile, they stabilize the entire body and create a more mobile person.
Whole Body Workout
Pilates is a workout for the whole body, even the ankles and feet! Many conventional workouts only focus on repetitive movements of specific muscle groups, which can lead to muscular imbalance. This can be the cause of back pain and injuries. Pilates, however, trains multiple muscle groups simultaneously, ensuring that no specific group is over or under-trained. In Pilates, we use and strengthen muscles you didn’t even know you had!
Efficient Movement Patterns
Most Pilates exercises are a combination of stretching and strengthening. Through the use of continuous motion and proper technique, Pilates students are able to train their bodies to move in safer and more efficient ways in everyday life. Think squatting, reaching, twisting, walking, etc!
Body Awareness
The regular practice of Pilates helps to develop an increased proprioception (your sense of spatial awareness and how you are moving). This is achieved through a focus on breath and drawing attention to the way your muscles push and pull. Increased proprioception is helpful for many other activities outside of Pilates, and is especially beneficial for older adults to help prevent falls and injuries.
Low Impact Workout
Pilates is an ideal exercise program for anyone dealing with long-term pain, recovering from injuries, or just starting to exercise again after a break. The Reformer, a central part of studio Pilates, is a device that uses a series of pulleys, springs, and straps to provide resistance for many different movement patterns. [See photo below] Pilates students lay down, sit, stand, or kneel on different parts of the machine, and these positions offer support to the core of the body which helps to take the load off of the joints. At the restorative level, Pilates is gentle enough to be used to help rehabilitate injuries.
The Reformer
uses a series of pulleys, springs, and straps to provide resistance for many different movement patterns in Pilates.
Fun and Community!
At Pella Pilates & Wellness, the mission is: “to inspire and encourage movement that restores and strengthens. By strengthening the core, improving posture and balance, increasing flexibility, and diminishing pain, one can then live a more abundant life.” We have clients from many different walks of life, and we love building relationships through becoming stronger together. We strive to create an environment that is nothing but encouraging and uplifting as we all learn what our bodies are capable of and how to move in new ways!
Pilates is fun, energizing, and creates balance and strength within your body. If you’re interested in learning more about Pella Pilates or joining a class, fill out the New Client Inquiry Form.
Sources:
https://www.pilates.com/pilates/benefits-of-pilates/
https://www.lesmills.com/fit-planet/fitness/pilates/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/pilates-benefits
