Pilates Exercises
Pilates is a method of exercising that lengthens and stretches all the major muscle groups in the body in a balanced fashion. Pilates practitioners swear by the method, and in some circles, it almost reaches cultlike status. It is true that there are many benefits to Pilates, but some of the benefits, even when they do occur, are unproven in research.
Basic Principles Of Pilates
There are certain basic principles on which the entire Pilates fitness system is based on. The core principles of the technique are, the proper postural alignment of the skeletal structure, breathing, centering, concentration, control, precision, and the flow of movements. It provides more focus on strengthening the muscles of the abdomen, back, hip, and also the buttock, i.e., the muscles within the center of the body. These muscles are usually referred to as the ‘core muscles’ in Pilates.
Is Pilates For Beginners?
It is a common misconception that Pilates is only for serious athletes or professional dancers. While such groups first adopted Pilates, they aren’t the only ones who can benefit from this method to strength training.
Another common misperception is that Pilates requires specialized equipment. Indeed, when you think of Pilates you probably picture the reformer, an apparatus that resembles a bed frame with a sliding carriage and adjustable springs, or even the cadillac, a type of trapeze table. The truth is that many Pilates exercises can be done on the ground with just a mat.
What Are The Benefits Of Pilates?
By practicing Pilates regularly, you can achieve a number of health benefits, including:
Alignment
Proper alignment balances your skeleton so your muscles are held in their ideal length, without tension. If your body is continually held out of good alignment, it places a great strain on your muscles, ligaments, and joints, that will reduce your body’s ability to react to the force of gravity, resulting in aches and pains and inhibited movement. Pilates provides you with an opportunity to learn to correct your misalignments and allow your muscles to work as efficiently as they should.
More Awareness
If nothing else, doing Pilates should provide you with a new awareness of your body. You may never have thought about pulling in your tummy, sitting up tall or keeping your neck down away from your ears. And you’ll never have thought a lot about how exactly you breathe. The things you find out in Pilates will start to filter into your daily life, and you’ll find that you correct your own posture and habits naturally.
Flexibility
Everybody wants to achieve a strong body, but there has to be a balance between strength and flexibility, and Pilates is the perfect exercise regime to achieve this. Tight muscles hinder your mobility and may lead to tension, aches, and pain. Flexibility is essential for your overall fitness and vitality. It ensures a larger range of movement in your joints, and can in turn mean your joints remain healthy and fare better against normal wear and tear as they age.
Better Posture
Better posture is something Pilates can pretty much guarantee. And other people will surely notice this change in you after only a few Pilates workouts. If you take the lessons you learn from Pilates to heart, you’ll stand and sit taller and look more elegant.
Strength
Pilates is a wonderful body-conditioning programme since you don’t need any equipment in order to strengthen your body. You can simply use your own body weight to create resistance for your muscles and also to tone up. Which truly does mean that your workout will be only as effective as the effort you put in to the exercises. Strength begins with a determination to achieve the best. With time, you will see your muscles gaining tone and looking sculpted, but you’ll also believe much stronger and more energized.
Less Back Pain
Most back pain results from faulty posture and a sedentary lifestyle. Pilates addresses the muscle imbalances that many typically contribute to back pain, namely weak abdominals and butt muscles. Pilates also stretches out the tight and overworked back muscles. Proper alignment may be the main factor that helps to alleviate back pain. Should you choose Pilates carefully, you’ll understand how to use your body in ways that protect your back from injury.
Stress Relief
Stress is one of the biggest negative factors of contemporary life, affecting your physical and mental wellbeing just as much as disease does. Frequent exercise is one of the best remedies for stress and has many benefits. Pilates focuses on breathing – an in-depth, mindful pattern of breathing that instantly enhances feelings of calm and release within the body and mind. We also work constantly on posture: a poised and lifted body, free from tension and pain, creates a calm mind.
The Pilates Exercises Benefit
Better Balance
Any gymnast knows that to keep from falling off the balance beam, you have to pull in your belly and squeeze your butt. In order to have good balance, you must have a strong centre, and you have to know how to find it without a large amount of thought. Pilates exercises strengthen the core. After doing Pilates regularly, you might not be able to do a back flip on the balance beam, but you’ll definitely find increased coordination and balance.
