Pilates achieves all of this and, due to its low impact nature, rarely leaves you feeling fatigued. This stimulates feel-good hormones, oxygen flow, and blood circulation. It increases energyīy focusing on breath, Pilates improves cardiorespiratory capacity ( 11, 12). Research has suggested that Pilates is an effective method for reducing injury risk in sport ( 9, 10). Pilates focuses on developing dynamic strength, which means you are better able to support and stabilize your joints while moving.
Muscles that are too loose and weak or too tight and rigid can make the body more susceptible to injury. Pilates balances the muscles of the body so that they are neither loose and weak nor tight and rigid. These muscles work like a brace to lift and support the organs and protect and stabilize the back ( 1, 7, 8).
Pilates targets the deeper abdominal muscles and the pelvic floor to both contract and release - a true sign of strength. It improves posture by bringing awareness to your alignment and strengthening neglected postural muscles ( 6, 7).
Pilates focuses on the full body’s alignment, ideal range of motion at the joints, and a balance of all opposing muscles. Improved posture is the difference between weak, imbalanced muscles, headaches, shoulder or back pain, and sitting or standing tall with ease. Your parents had the right idea when they told you to stop slouching and sit up straight. Core strength is a key factor in decreasing back and hip pain, decreasing pelvic floor dysfunction, and is the area from which explosive movement derives, hence its nickname “the powerhouse.” 2. Pilates improves core strength and function ( 5). The core is all of the surrounding muscles of the trunk that when strengthened and pliable, support and stabilize the body. Pilates is famously known for its emphasis on the core - the center of the body from which all movement stems. Pilates is a challenging low impact exercise method that balances strength with mobility, aligns the body, fine-tunes movement patterns, and strengthens the deeper muscles of the core.ġ9 benefits of Pilates 1. It helps you move and breathe through your daily activities with more freedom and power and less pain.
The optimal strength gained from a consistent Pilates practice is nonrigid, balancing strength with mobility and flexibility. Pilates is a low impact exercise that creates optimal strength through muscle balance and fine-tuning neuromuscular patterns. What appears to look simple can be deceptively challenging and incredibly effective when done correctly with good form. Pilates aligns your entire body’s overall structure and supports its joints. Rather, using that core strength to develop functional and sustainable movement patterns throughout the body is the goal.Ĭreated in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates, the exercises coordinate movement and breath together to work the smaller and deeper stabilizing muscles of the body as much as your prime movers. Though there is an emphasis on core work, core strength alone is not the end goal. Originally called “Contrology,” Pilates is a method of whole body exercise designed to improve daily activities and livelihood.