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Fun Fact: Pilates was introduced by a physical trainer Joseph Pilates almost a hundred years ago!
Well yes, Pilates has been helping people get fitter and healthier for almost a hundred years now and it is one of the most popular exercises to date. It is especially great for people who are looking to restart their fitness regime as this extensive method comprises a series of around 500 exercises. In fact, Joseph Pilates had introduced this form of fitness exercise for athletes and dancers who were returning to their regime after an injury or a long hiatus. All these 500 exercises are inspired by callisthenics, yoga and ballet.
Interestingly, Pilates can be performed as an aerobic exercise as well as a non-aerobic exercise. There are a lot of benefits of Pilates but the best part is that you never exhaust your muscles in it. In other words, there is no excessive sweating or muscles strain. But yes, Pilates requires a lot of concentration as you have to focus on the centre points to control your body through a precise range of motions.
Pilates can be performed by all kinds of people–from someone who’s at the starting phase of their fitness routine, pregnant women, to elite athletes. However, it is important that you keep evaluating your routine from time to time to ensure that your Pilates workouts are suiting you and your body needs. You can opt for a mat-based Pilates workout that is mostly performed on the ground with the help of your muscles and gravity or you can opt for equipment-based Pilates that requires the help of specific workout equipment.
Well, whatever you choose, there will be endless benefits of Pilates workouts. So, if you are someone who is about to begin Pilates, then you must read about these benefits before you start. Also, if you are someone who is wondering whether to take up Pilates as your regular workout regime, then we suggest you go through this article that will help you make an informed decision.
Benefits Of Pilates That You Must Know
There are a lot of benefits of Pilates exercise as the workout focuses on so many different parts of your body and helps you become more active in general. So, check out the benefits of doing Pilates and let us know later how well it worked for you.
Whole Body Fitness
Unlike a lot of other exercises, Pilates does not just enhance a particular part of the body and neglect others. Pilates focuses on core strength and impacts your body as a whole. It also develops flexibility and motions of the joints and most importantly, it pays attention to breathing and mind. That is the reason why a lot of athletes choose Pilates as it helps in their swift movement.
Caters To All Needs & Groups
Whether you are an elderly citizen, a pregnant woman, an elite athlete, someone who is just starting a fitness regime or someone who is moderately into fitness, Pilates is for all of you. As it focuses on core strength and helps develop a mind-body integration, the workout is suitable for all the age groups and gender. In fact, with a little modification, it can cater to every individual’s need.
Strength Over Bulk
Pilates will not help you over-develop any part of your body but help you achieve lean muscles. The workouts will help you build toned and strong muscles that will function perfectly and accordingly to your body as a whole. You can practice eccentric contraction, a type of muscle contraction, that will help you achieve lean long muscles.
Also Read: Best Exercises for Increasing Height
Increases Flexibility
Pilate is known for making your muscles leaner and stronger and at the same time, you can work toward a safe increase in length and stretch of the muscles which will also help in flexibility and better range of motion in your joints. Well, who doesn’t love a body that can easily flex, stretch and bend?!
Core Strength
The deep muscles of the pelvic floor, back, and the abdomen together comprise the core muscles of the body. The core muscles are responsible for good posture, strong back, and efficient movement. Pilates can strengthen your core muscles that support the overall frame of your body. It lets our neck and shoulders relax and one of the benefits of Pilates exercise is that also helps you get toned abs!
Improves Posture
A good posture is extremely important. You can start with the basic and fundamental Pilates exercises and then can gradually progress to advanced Pilates exercises. Pilates are especially helpful for people who suffer from back pain.
Increases Energy
Here’s one big myth–an extensive workout sesh drains your energy completely. Well, you might feel exhausted immediately after you have exercised but that feeling is temporary. On the contrary, the more you exercise, the more you feel energetic and active throughout the day. Pilates can help regulate your breaths and blood circulation in the body. It can also give a kickstart to all your body muscles and joint muscles to function better.
Weight Loss
If you are someone who is looking forward to losing some inches from your body in order to become fitter, then Pilates is the exercise for you. You can perform Pilates for weight loss and see the difference within weeks. Pilates is known to target the overall muscles of your body and make them leaner and stronger. It also makes you more flexible and energetic and that helps you further in losing weight. However, remember the basic rule that to lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you take in. And, for best outcomes, combine aerobic activities with your Pilate sesh and you will be surprised with the results.
Great For Mental Peace
Joseph Pilates called Pilates as ‘Contrology’ because he believed that pilates brings coordination in our bodies, minds, and spirits. The exercise uses our concentration, undivided attention and focus, and breathing patterns to target the muscles we want to work on. Thus, there are mental benefits of Pilates that include making us feel more peaceful and focused.
Accessible To All
You do not need a fancy gym or an expensive trainer to start your Pilates workout. The health benefits of Pilates and the workout regime are so popular that its training is available easily and accessible to all. You can opt for live virtual classes and practice Pilates for weight loss at home with the help of a mat and some basic equipments like dumbbells.
Beneficial During & After Pregnancy
During pregnancy, Pilates prepares your body for the strain of childbirth by strengthening the pelvic muscles. After the pregnancy, it helps women in maintaining spinal and pelvic alignment, promotes efficient body mechanics, and helps in recovering pre-pregnancy bodies.
Improves Sleep Cycle
Pilates help in regulating breathing patterns and help in maintaining a great posture. The benefits of Pilates further help in reducing stress, anxiety, and headaches. These factors contribute to a person’s proper sleep cycle and better mood and energy.
FAQs
To answer this question, Joseph Pilates said, “In 10 sessions you will feel better, in 20 you will look better, and in 30 you will have a whole new body.” If you are working out twice or thrice a week, then you are sure to see the effects in 10-12 weeks.
Pilates focuses on the deepest abdominal layers and improves the strength of your core muscles. In other words, regular Pilates sessions can burn your belly fat and when combined with other cardio exercises, it even gives you toned abs.
Yes. Pilates can change your body shape, make your muscles look leaner, and make your posture better. Unlike most of the other exercises, Pilates does not just focus on a specific part of the body and hence gives you an overall balanced look.
Joseph Pilates emphasised on the fact that doing Pilates even 10 minutes a day can really bring a positive change in your body. However, you do not need to do Pilates every single day but a proper 10 to 20 minutes Pilates session thrice a week can do wonders for your body.
Yes. As Pilates challenges almost the entire muscles of your body, you might feel sore , especially if you are a beginner. Remember that it is a good type of pain because it means that your muscles are rebuilding themselves and getting leaner and stronger. However, the pain is meant to subside once you get regular with your workout sessions. If that does not seem to happen, then you might want to consult your trainer or doctor because it could be due to wrong positions and postures.
You need to understand that both Yoga and Pilates have their own benefits and are different from each other in certain ways. While yoga improves your flexibility, Pilates is known for relaxing and strengthening muscles and making them leaner. However, if you are someone who is recovering from an injury or wants to improve posture, then Pilates could be your go-to option.
Honestly, there is no ‘right’ time to do Pilates . As long as you are being regular and true to your workout sessions, it does not matter if you do Pilates in the morning, noon, or night. Of course, you need to take care of your food timing before you start your exercise.
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So now that you are convinced, start your pilates workout sesh right away!
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