Why Pilates?
Pilates is system of exercises that focus of strengthening your “powerhouse,” the area of your body above and below the navel that wraps front to back. Pilates was developed by German-born Joseph Pilates, who believed mental and physical health were closely connected, and practicing Pilates has been proven to improve overall wellbeing as well as general fitness.
The goal of Pilates is the create a uniformly developed body. These exercises aim to strengthen muscles while improving postural alignment and flexibility. You do not need any special equipment to do Pilates, but there are plenty of pieces of equipment that Joseph Pilates created including Reformer, Cadillac and Chair, which enhance the experience via the resistance of springs. Either just on your Mat or with Equipment, expect the practice to involve slow, precise movements and breath control which strengthen and stabilize your core so you can move efficiently while improving your posture, flexibility, and mobility.
Many students find Pilates after an injury or accident post-PT. The movement practices assist in relieving pain because they help create space in the joints where compression may exist while strengthening the whole body. Practicing Pilates on a regular basis provides plenty of well-rounded benefits and anyone, at any age, can get started.
Through these controlled and progressive movements, you can totally reshape your body and improve:
- Balance: Pilates exercises require more thought than other workouts which keeping the mind active and alert such as slow movements of the limbs while maintaining a strong core, so that your balance will quickly improve.
- Flexibility: Pilates lubricates your joints and mobilizes your spine which can prevent problems such as stiff backs, tight hamstrings, bent knees, rounded shoulders, tech neck, and forward head.
- Core strength: Many Pilates movements require you to stabilize your torso while moving your limbs in different directions which will strengthen your core and will streamline your body.
- Mental Health: Pilates makes you stop and think about what you are doing. By focusing the mind, regulating your breathing and making use of internal resistance it is an extremely powerful way to tone the body.