Benefits of Pilates: how it can work for you
The benefits of Pilates go far beyond that of your regular workout regime. Targeting your full body whilst working your mind and muscle in harmony, Pilates is a workout like no other.
Developed by German-born fitness guru Joseph Pilates in the 1920s, the traditional Pilates method is low impact and focusses on muscular strength, endurance and flexibility. The exercises are performed with precision, control and a strong focus on posture and technique, using the breath to enhance muscle movements whilst centring the mind.
The precise and focussed training method of Pilates enables very specific muscle groups to be targeted, which are often hard to recruit and specifically train through other forms of exercise. The main areas of focus include your deep abdominal muscles, glutes, hips and postural muscles including your upper and lower back. These core muscles act as the ‘powerhouse’ of your body, providing a stable base for the rest of your muscles to most safely and effectively work from to produce all sorts of movement.
A strong core helps to reduce your risk of injury and back pain, improve posture and alignment and enables your body to function and perform optimally. Once the core stabilising muscles are isolated and engaged, the larger, more superficial muscles of the rest of the body can be effectively trained through more dynamic, functional exercises. This results in increased strength and tone to the entire body, sculpting you from head to toe with long, lean muscles and a streamlined physique.
“Pilates develops the body uniformly, corrects wrong postures, restores physical vitality, invigorates the mind, and elevates the spirit” – Joseph Pilates
In addition to strengthening and toning the entire body, Pilates practice also leads to improved posture and balance. All exercises in Pilates are taught and performed with an emphasis on correct posture and alignment, which helps engage and train every muscle more effectively and functionally. As well as maintaining good posture throughout, the postural muscles of the body (being the back, pelvis and deep abdominals) are some of the most targeted in all Pilates classes, helping you stand taller. Improved postural alignment and the ability to target very specific muscle groups enables muscle imbalances to be restored, leading to heightened body awareness, improved balance and coordination, as well as a reducing the risk of injury.
Flexibility is another important, and very sought after, benefit of Pilates. In Pilates, many exercises are performed through a large range of movement, lengthening one muscle whilst strengthening another. This enhances the body’s mobility and, in addition to other specific stretches performed throughout class, increases overall flexibility.
Not only does Pilates improve body strength, shape and movement, it also has great benefits on the mind. Of the 8 Principles of the Pilates Method, the principle that sits at number one is concentration. A Pilates workout requires complete concentration of how the body is moving, training both the brain and body to function more efficiently. Every movement is controlled and linked to the breath through a particular breathing pattern, which improves both focus and the effectiveness of the exercise. This holistic connection of mind and body helps to increase mindfulness and enhances overall wellbeing.
Pilates is suitable to all levels of ability, strength and fitness. Using either body weight alone (in Mat Pilates classes) or adjustable spring-loaded resistance (in Reformer Pilates classes), all exercises can be modified to cater to any body. This includes those with injury, pre and post-natal women and people of older age. Pilates exercises are low-impact, yet can be made very challenging for even the most advanced. From beginner to athlete, everybody can enjoy the unique benefits of Pilates classes.
Through focussed, controlled movements leading to increased muscle strength and tone, improved posture, balance, flexibility and mindfulness, Pilates is the ultimate workout.