Ultimately we all want a strong and healthy body and often we ask ourselves, what form of exercise and lifestyle should we choose to action this? I am here to explain how Pilates can change your body.
- Firstly, I want you to understand that is never too late to take on a new form of exercise and that change is possible with action.
- Pilates is generally a practice that is available to anyone, anywhere no matter of physical ability. Consulting your GP before participating is generally advised.
- I will be explaining what Pilates can do for your body and why it is important to participate in this practice to help you feel the best you can. I will explain the different muscle groups targeted and the reasons we target each one of those to improve your strength, flexibility and mobility.
What can Pilates really do for my body?
Fundamentally, Pilates is a practice which helps strengthen and support, it is also known as the Powerhouse. The Powerhouse, is made up of 4 different areas of the core. By simple definition: The abdominals, the glute muscles, the lower back and legs.
By working these different areas of the core you can increase your muscle strength, improve your posture as you work with lengthening the body to increase your flexibility. This will then help increase your range of motion in the body. These are all achieved by working through a series of movements that flow into the next to create a Pilates routine. Not all Pilates classes are the same therefore the movement is creative and never boring.
It’s important to know that Pilates is not about learning a routine it is about understanding how your body works over a period of time and how can you deepen your connection to your core muscles. Breathing is one of the 6 principals of Pilates where we learn to use our breath to create more space in the body allowing ourselves to work efficiently.
How do I get a strong core?
When we work the abdominal muscles you are doing your body a world of good! The main reasons to work is are:
- Prevent lower back pain
- Maintain good posture
- You can learn to breath better
- Improved breathing can help with other sporting activities
- Working effectively can help to burn fat and tone your abdominals
When we work the glutes:
- You have the ability to perform better when it comes to both daily tasks and other athletic activities.
- Strong glutes help to support and strengthen the spine and to improve your posture.
- Strong glutes help with preventing injury and aid with faster recovery.
When you work your legs:
- When legs muscles are worked, we can improve both strength and flexibility.
- It’s important to know that you need a balance between strength and flexibility to help prevent injury.
- When we learn to engage our abdominals to assist in stabilising leg movement, we are able to control the effort making sure the correct muscles are worked and we do not overwork muscles such as the hip flexors.
- You will improve muscle definition and tone.
When you work your back:
- Your lower back is a major foundation for the rest of your body so it’s extremely important that you create strong muscles again to prevent injury and help increase recovery time.
- You increase range of motion allowing you to not only improve your Pilates practice but to help with every-day tasks such as walking and sitting down and getting up.
- If you suffer with regular back pain this can often lead to feelings of depression and ultimately your mental health starts to suffer. Therefore, there are not only physical benefits but mental benefits to this practice.
A reminder why..
By implementing Pilates into your life, it will no doubt change the way you feel about your body and the connection you have to it. As mentioned above, each class it different, it’s all about patience and giving yourself the opportunity to change your lifestyle for the better. The benefits don’t just come from the mat, the benefits go beyond and you are the person in charge of your destiny!!
If after one class you think it’s tough, I urge you not to give up! As Joseph Pilates, the founder of this practice once said “After 10 classes, you will feel the difference, after 20 you will see the difference, and after 30, you will have a whole new body”. Mark his words…they are truth.
Are you now ready to try a class? I have a few options for you…
YouTube – 10 minute Abs! Visit HERE.
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