What is Pilates all about?
We all know that Pilates is great for creating the perfect abs, the toned obliques, the flat stomach, perfect posture. We all know that Pilates is not just another fitness fad – it is here to stay. Below we take a closer look into some of the many benefits of Pilates.
It’s perfect for the abs
Pilates shapes the core, a feature that already makes it stand out among other fitness regimes. A study by Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise revealed that after 36 weeks of Pilates training, women strengthened their six-packs by an average of 21%, reducing muscle imbalances between the right and left sides of their cores.
It eases back pain
In the fitness world, a stronger core means a better back, which Pilates experts confirm. This makes it perfect for those who suffer from lower back pain. According to a study by a Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, in as little as 4 weeks, you can get more relief than you would if you had visited a physician and your pain will stay away for a full year after practising Pilates!
It’s light on the joints
The slow and controlled movements involved with Pilates only put a tiny bit of pressureon joints. This makes it ideal for participants of all ages and means that Pilates is a welcome alternative to other fitness programmes that create more stress on joints.
It improves your focus
Practising Pilates means that you have to focus on your breath, your body and how they both move together. This takes plenty of concentration, resulting in you blocking out other areas of your life.
It strengthens sports performance
Once you begin to strengthen your core, you’ll come to the realisation that every muscle is connected to your core. Try doing any sport manoeuvre without your abdominals and you put unnecessary pressure on your muscles. A stronger core results in a better overall performance. An added benefit is that with Pilates, you can learn moves that simulate and improve results in your chosen sport. Click here to read our recent blog post on the Benefits of Pilates for Sports.
It develops your flexibility
If you’re the type that says, “I’m not flexible, so I can’t do Pilates,” that’s precisely why you should be doing Pilates! A Brazilian study revealed that young women (who had never done Pilates before) who performed 20 Pilates sessions became 19.1% more flexible. Reduced flexibility limits your body’s range of motion, which can make it difficult to exercise and even cause injury! Flexibility is just as important as strength.
It increases your brainpower
Joseph Pilates described his method as the “thinking man’s exercise”. To support this idea, Chinese researchers tracked changes in women’s brain activity after 10 weeks of Pilates training, and found an increase in the brain’s alpha peak power. This is related to the neural network activity, memory performance as well as other mental functions. Can you see where this is going? It can help the kids at school. Pilates should definitely be on school curriculums going forward, if not already. This fitness regime may even serve as a treatment option for those suffering from brain-degenerative diseases, such as dementia, and other mental related dysfunctions.
As you can see, Pilates offers the participant a wealth of benefits that will surely enrich your life on many levels. So what are you waiting for?! Get in touch today to book in your first session.
