Heard all the hubbub about Pilates and wondered whether you should include it in your workout regime. Well, then you have come to the right place, as below you will find a detailed guide on the most important benefits of Pilates.
What is Pilates?
Before I go into the details of the benefits of Pilates, it’s a good idea to understand what it is. Named for its founder Joseph Pilates, Pilates was invented in the early part of the 20th century. Pilates is a series of moves and stretches that are designed to strengthen and align the body.
What equipment is used in Pilates?
You do not need to use equipment to do pilates and many classes can be accessed online and in real life. However, recent studies have shown that the practice of pilates is more effective when it uses the proper equipment such as reformers. Indeed, there are many different types of pilates equipment that have been specially designed for the activity including chairs, barrels and Lagrees that you can invest in.
Benefit 1: Encourages Lymphatic Drainage
The first major benefit of doing pilates as a form of exercise is that it’s great for lymphatic drainage. The lymph system in our bodies is designed to remove toxins and waste, so by making this better, we can help cleanse our bodies more effectively.
The good news is that Pilates is ideal for encouraging your lymphatic system to work well. This is because it involves lots of twisting and stretching which can help push the lymph fluid around your body, picking up and disposing of toxins as it goes.
Joseph Pilates was especially adamant that Pilates was useful in this area because it also works the joints and lymph nodes are often sited close to them.
Benefit 2: Helps Foster A Mind-Body Connection
Another great reason to include pilates in your workout is that it helps to forge a mind-body connection. In essence, this means it’s an activity like yoga or meditation that helps us be more mindful of our physical form and the sensations we experience inside.
Developing this internal mindfulness can be a very useful skill, not only in excelling at Pilates, and staying fit, but also as a way to know your limits and prevent injuries when working out. After all, if we are more turned into what we are feeling we are much less likely to push past what is safe for our body to do.
Additionally, the mind-body connection that Pilates can help to nurture is very important for mental wellness too. Indeed this connection can help with a range of functions including being able to better consciously relax our bodies as well as being able to tune into and describe how our emotions feel inside of our bodies.
Benefit 3: Increased Energy
If you are looking for an exercise that can help boost your energy levels then Pilates is an ideal choice. This is because Pilates is a low-impact exercise which works out the body without pushing the nervous system to feel overstimulated.
Indeed, many people report that they not only feel energized after a Pilates session, but they also feel incredibly calm. This may have something to do with the improvements in circulations, and stretching and relaxation of the muscles. So what this means is Pilates is not just energy-inducing but it fills people with that calm, focused energy that is most useful in our day-to-day lives.
Benefit 4: Improves Balance
Improved balance is another advantage of taking a Pilate class regularly. This is because Pilates requires participants to engage in dynamic stretches which test the core muscles and concentration. Of course, after practising these types of stretches for a while it’s only natural that your balance would improve, and this can be great news not only for athletes but for dancers, and older people as well.
Benefit 5: Helps Align The Body
Last of all, one of the most coveted benefits of including Pilates in your workout routine is that it helps align the body. This is because correct body alignment is associated with all sorts of positives from better breathing, and better muscle engagement to improve posture and the reduction of pain.
Pilates is ideal for those looking to have better alignment in their bodies because it asks participants to focus on awareness of their alignment as they move. This means they can receive internal feedback on their positive and self-correct. Pilates machines offer even more feedback on this aspect, making them an even more effective tool for those looking to improve their alignment.
What do you think?