What are Benefits of Pilates Workout?
The philosophy behind Pilates is that of balance. In the course of our daily lives, we are constantly using our muscles in varied and imbalanced ways. Everyone uses one side of the body more frequently than the other and this, combined with our ingrained habits of sitting and performing other daily activities, can create great disparities in muscular symmetry. When one side of the body is stronger than the other, our muscles began to lengthen and shorten to compensate, and we end up with all sorts of aches and pains- most commonly, lower back and neck pain and sciatica. Pilates exercises force the muscles to work in unison and correct these imbalances. In fact, many chiropractors actually recommend Pilates as an adjunct to treatment for back problems.
Aside from increasing muscular symmetry and strength, Pilates offers a host of other benefits. Pilates emphasises deep breathing, which decreases stress, increases oxygenation to body tissues and decreases blood pressure. Additionally, because of its emphasis on strengthening the ‘core’ stabilising muscles of the body, Pilates workouts will give you better posture and with it a more lean appearance. The muscles that you build during a Pilates workout will be long and lean, similar to the musculature of a trained dancer.
Possibly one of the most exciting aspects of Pilates is that anyone can do it, and everyone can achieve amazing results. Because there’s no bouncing, jarring, or stress to your body, Pilates offers the ideal form of exercise for people who, because of joint pain or muscle weakness, shy away from exercise.
Although this is a challenging workout, Pilates can be easily modified to the individual. Beginners will receive guidance in proper form to maximise effectiveness while reducing the chance of injury or muscle strain. There is no question that a regular Pilates practice will make a huge difference in the way you look and feel. Joseph Pilates, the developer of this exercise system was famous for saying, “In ten sessions you will feel the difference, and in thirty you’ll have a whole new body.”
Pilates is a fitness system developed by Joseph H. Pilates and designed to holistically strengthen and balance the entire body. The Pilates system includes more than 500 specially designed exercises that use the body as resistance and focus on slow, controlled movements to achieve increases in muscular strength and flexibility. Most of the exercises are performed on the floor or a mat, although some studios do use specialised equipment.
When do I see the results??
It’s also convenient. You don’t need any heavy, expensive equipment, and you can do Pilates anywhere, anytime. Some of the routines take less than 10 minutes, making Pilates the perfect form of exercise for anyone who finds there’s not enough time in the day for exercise. You have 10 minutes to strengthen your abs and back, don’t you? You’ll start to see and feel results in as few as 10 sessions.
Just some of the many ways you can benefit from doing Pilates regularly include:
Improves Mental Outlook and Increases Motivation
Pilates’ benefits your emotional health. The smooth, steady movements quiet your mind and soothe your nervous system. As you lengthen and strengthen your muscles, you’ll improve your circulation and whisk tension away. Each workout will leave you feeling calm, balanced, and rejuvenated. Focus on letting the tension go, and you’ll be on the path to a healthier body inside and out.
Less Pain & Stiffness
If you suffer from osteoarthritis pain, you’ll find that lengthening your body through Pilates will help soothe the soreness. Appropriate exercise is vital to managing arthritis because it increases flexibility for stretches and reduces pain and fatigue. Stretching helps pump vital nutrients to your muscles and tendons, which help keep them healthy and minimise your risk of injury. It also stimulates the production of joint lubricants (synovial fluid) and prevents adhesions. As circulation increases, your legs, back, neck, and shoulders loosen up, relieving aches and stiffness. Pilates also leads to subtle posture improvements, which will also eliminate tension, driving away headaches, backaches, neck aches, and other aches and pains.
Better Balance, More Coordination
In your 40s, balance starts to deteriorate as your muscles weaken and your nerve receptors lose sensitivity. Pilates reverses this ageing process by stabilising your core. Pilates works the small, deep muscles needed to keep your body steady when walking and your spine both supple and strong.
Faster return to Pre-pregnancy figure
Many women who have given birth ask me how I got my lower tummy so flat after I had my two kids. It doesn’t take that much time, but if you do a few moves on a regular basis, you will see results. Muscles have a beautiful memory. They will bounce back with just a little toning.
A Healthy Supple Spine
Pilates gives more support to your spine, creating space between each vertebra. That extra space not only makes you appear taller, it also creates more mobility, transforming your spine from a stiff rod into a supple string of pearls. This new suppleness prevents degenerative spinal problems, such as slipped disks. It also helps you move with more grace and ease.
The Basic
Every Pilates movement—when done correctly-starts in your core (abdomen), stays in your core and ends in your core. A strong core:
Allows a gymnast to hold a handstand and a yogi to hold a headstand
Allows the martial artist to kick through a board and a dancer to leap into the air
Puts more oomph in your tennis swing, more speed to your run, and more control in your ski slalom
Creates power in your midsection and shrinks middle-age spread, helping you to accomplish goals you never before dreamed possible.
That’s why it’s so important that you learn how to move from your core before you attempt any Pilates routine. If you lose the core emphasis, you lose many of the benefits of Pilates. To understand what I’m talking about, try this simple exercise, which I call “zipping up your abs”:
Kinder, Gentler Conditioning
If you’re out of shape, Pilates provides a wonderful way to ease into any kind of fitness plan. Pilates puts no stress on your joints and no wear and tear on your ligaments and cartilage around your joints, especially your knee and shoulder joints. It conditions your muscles in a balanced way and increases your self-awareness by drawing your focus inward. In reality, Pilates is very rehabilitative. It’s almost like going to physical therapy sessions. In fact, unlike other forms of exercise, you can safely do Pilates every day without overstressing your muscles or joints. To see results, however, you need to do Pilates only three times a week. But you have to be consistent. That’s the key.
