There Are Some Great Pilates Benefits

Pilates, by definition, is a system of exercises either using a mat and bodyweight or using special apparatus, designed to improve physical strength, flexibility, posture and enhance mental awareness.

You might be thinking about starting a Pilates class but don’t know quite enough about them. Read on to find out how Pilates can benefit you.

Exercise is known to improve stress management and enhance muscular strength and the benefits of Pilates are just diverse and immense.

Let’s have a look at five great benefits of Pilates.

1. It’s For Everybody!

The first benefit of Pilates: anyone can do them.

They’re gentle enough for people of all ages and fitness levels to try, making them suitable for a wide variety of people. Exercises can be adapted to make them harder or easier, depending on the individual

For the majority of people, there’s no excuse, you can start Pilates today.

Even if you’ve been injured, after appropriate assessment (and treatment if needed) by a health professional/physiotherapist, you can use Pilates to help with your recovery progress.

The body likes to move, so getting you moving sooner rather than later after an injury can help both the body and the mind.

2. Improved Body Awareness

What’s body awareness?

Simply put, it’s being aware of your body and all of its different parts. You’ll find you get greater results from your workout if you focus on what you’re doing and which part of the body you want to feel working.

Why’s this important?

Body awareness helps you recognize things like poor posture and injury and even helps us improve our body’s ability to perform simple tasks without thinking (like walking up a flight of stairs).

Pilates improves body awareness by correcting posture and strengthening the core’s muscles, both of which transcend into other forms of exercise and daily activities.

3. Improved Physical Coordination and Balance

Pilates enhances physical coordination and balance by increasing trunk stability and strength.

This improved coordination goes hand-in-hand with the point above about improving body awareness. As a result, you’ll find that the more you’re able to focus on what you’re doing, the better you know your body, and the easier you’ll find coordination and balance.

Check out this study that shows how Pilates improved markers for balance and stability in elderly women aged 65 and older.

4. Improved Stress Management

Pilates can improve stress management.

Several key things occur during a Pilates session that causes a reduction in stress, here are some of the most noteworthy:

1. Diaphragmatic breathing
2. Relaxation of certain muscles
3. Guided imagery
4. Mindfulness.

All of these things have shown to reduce stress in various ways and are also part of most Pilates routines.

5. Improved Muscular Strength

Studies have shown that Pilates can increase muscular strength in areas of physical activity where abdominal exercises are often neglected.

Broadly speaking, you can split muscle strength into:

• endurance
• and strength.

The sustained Pilates exercises can help you with your endurance, while the weight-bearing exercises can help improve strength.

Pilates classes

We run regular Pilates classes for different levels here at PhysioFit Health. Click here to read more about what we offer.

Questions?

Trying out different exercises is key to improving and maintaining the body’s flexibility, which in turn can help with recruiting muscles efficiently.

If you’ve got any questions on the above, then please let us know (click for contact details).

Remember – Listen to Your Body!

Please remember to listen to your body. Get any aches and pains checked out sooner rather than later.

Disclaimer:

As with all information given for exercises and exercise programs, when using our exercise videos or information, please use your common sense and don’t do anything that will hurt you. By performing any fitness exercises, you are performing them at your own risk. PhysioFit Health will not be responsible or liable for any injury or harm you sustain as a result of information shared on our website or YouTube channel. This includes emails, videos, and text. Thanks for your understanding.