Five Reasons Why Everyone Should Practise Pilates
By Sara Stafford for The Pilates Hut
“The whole country, the whole world , should be doing my excercises. They’d be happier. “ (Joseph Pilates)
Of course, there are more than five reasons to love pilates… but we all have to start somewhere. Promising to improve the way we look, feel and carry ourselves, it’s hardly surprising that pilates has become the go-to exercise for millions of people all over the world. Young or not-so-young, fit or not-so-fit, pilates provides a wide range of health and wellness benefits which are valuable for us all.
So, here’s why we think everyone should practise pilates:
_____________________
1: It improves posture, flexibility and mobility
Modern lifestyles can take their toll on our bodies. The way we habitually move (and sit) at work and in our day-to-day lives can result in bad posture, stiffened joints and, as we age, reduced mobility. Pilates can reverse this process, getting you moving freely again. By focusing on alignment and core-strength, gentle targeted exercises lengthen the spine to rebalance the neck, shoulders, pelvis and hips. Pilates builds flexibility and movement in your muscles so you’ll feel more confident, coordinated and balanced on your feet… and in your life.
_____________________
2: It increases strength, tone and definition
We all want to look and - more importantly - to feel our best. Many common exercises concentrate on losing mass or building bulk but pilates is different. Instead, it focuses on elongating and strengthening muscles by using simple but highly effective movements and your own body weight as resistance. Pilates is a fantastic all-over workout for general fitness. While you might find you lose weight (many do!), it’s particularly effective at building lean, defined muscle; flattening tums and toning limbs. Over time, you’ll discover muscles you didn’t know you had, walk taller and feel more confident in your own body.
_____________________
3: It supports recovery, rehabilitation and injury prevention
We all know that getting moving again after an injury or operation can be difficult, especially as we age. With its gentle, low-impact high-efficiency
approach, pilates can help rebuild muscle and strength, quickly and safely. In fact, it’s so effective that many professional sportspeople are using this exercise to help them regain strength, improve overall performance and future-proof their training. Regular pilates can banish persistent back-pain and support an injury-free lifestyle; the more balanced, flexible and strong we are today, the more chance we have of preventing suffering in the future.
_____________________
4: It keeps us relaxed, de-stressed and connected with our bodies
After a busy day, our minds (as well as our bodies) can feel exhausted. Pilates provides the perfect antidote to our overstretched modern lifestyles. The act of calm, mindful focus on movement and breath allows us to forget the outside world and reconnect with our centre. We now know that our mental health and overall happiness can be improved with regular pilates. By triggering the release of endorphins into our systems, exercises like pilates can reduce stress and encourage healthy sleep patterns; reconnecting us with our bodies and promoting wellbeing from within.
_____________________
5: It’s sociable, satisfying and loads of fun!
Anybody who’s been to a gym can attest to the fact that solo exercise can be boring and lonely; nobody ever made friends pounding away on a treadmill... Pilates is different. When you join a pilates group, you become part of a community who support and encourage each other, both on and off our mats and reformers.
Pilates exercises range from gentle and accessible to intensely challenging, so there’s something for every single body and every fitness goal. Whatever level you’re working at, nothing beats feeling your body getting stronger and more capable with every class.
_____________________
