The Benefits of Pilates: 7 Reasons You Should Try Pilates
- coremvmt
- Feb 7, 2024
- 2 min read
“Pilates is the complete coordination of mind, body and spirit.” — Joseph Pilates
Pilates isn’t just about great posture and a rock-hard core. And, it’s certainly more than just a workout - it can radically enhance your mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Here are my top 7 reasons why everyone should be doing Pilates... or at least try!
1. Alleviates Back Pain - By stabilizing the core’s lumbar-pelvic (lower-back region), Pilates alleviates stress on the body and improves mobility. It’s not always about what muscles need stretching but rather what requires activating and strengthening.
2. Is perfect for your “powerhouse” - Control of your core is achieved by integrating the trunk, pelvis, and shoulder girdle. With precision and control, you’re well on your way to eliminating muscle imbalances on the left and right side of your rectus abdominis (the six- pack) and strengthening the lower back.
3. Is easy on joints - Many of the positions are executed either reclined or sitting, and are primarily low impact and partially weight-bearing.
4. Hones your focus - Joseph Pilates called his workout method “the thinking man’s exercise.” The mind-body connection requires you to focus on your 1) breath, 2) muscle(s) contracting and stabilizing and 3) integrated movement collectively. So grab a mat and break away from work, silence your phone and put aside the to-do list!
5. Elongates and strengthens muscles simultaneously - “Your muscles are only as strong as they are long, and long as they are strong.” This is probably one of my favorite quotes and it’s so true! When muscles are tight, they’re shortened and limit your range of motion. Next time you’re moving through a Pilates exercise, try not to focus on simply what is contracting but what, by default, is also lengthening and how the movement brings a perfect balance to the muscles’ length-tension relationship. You’ll gain greater flexibility quickly!
6. Conditions the body, improves sports performance, and prevents injury - A good indicator of overall great athleticism is an athlete’s ability to move his or her hips & shoulders independently of one another without excessive trunk movement. This promotes greater efficiency and power. Specific Pilates exercises mimic sports specific mechanics and can teach you how to use less energy, move equally as fast and maintain a set speed longer.
7. It’s challenging - Pilates is the perfect format suitable for all levels of flexibility. Modifications are offered to allow for a range of difficulty from beginner to advanced. As your body conditioning improves, so does the intensity. There’s never a dull moment in learning as we grow!
Are you new to Pilates and wondering how to get started? Check out our online class schedule by clicking the link below. You’re one step closer to loving your core even more, I promise ;)
As always, live well and be well!
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