What is pilates

Pilates is a system of exercise designed to strengthen the body, develop proper posture, develop flexibility, and improve the fluidity and accuracy of movement. In addition, this workout focuses on connecting the mind and body.

The exercises in this system involve gentle, unhurried movement and are done with total control of your body – you must constantly focus on your breathing and be aware of how your body is moving.

Regular Pilates practice will not only help you develop posture, but will also have a positive effect on the spine and help control your balance.

This exercise system was developed in the early twentieth century by Joseph Pilates, a German sports physician. Pilates was a strong advocate of the inseparable link between physical and mental health. He created the workout when he was trying to help soldiers who had been wounded in war. The method was successfully used in rehabilitation and was later named after its creator. Today, it is a popular training system that many celebrities are passionate about.

Classes are held at three levels of training, which are divided into beginner, basic and advanced. The movements are performed smoothly and slowly – beginning with light and simple movements, which gradually become more complicated. The load is static, there is no overstrain and heart rate.

It is best to practice Pilates in comfortable clothing made of natural materials.

What for?

As mentioned, Pilates focuses on strength, posture and flexibility. This means that this system of exercise can help keep you healthy for as long as possible or even restore it.

Let’s take a closer look at how you can benefit from Pilates.

Posture

Pilates teaches you how to find and maintain good posture. The exercises require your body to be in alignment at all times. They are especially helpful for those who are concerned about back pain.

Muscle tone

The exercises involve muscles that are inactive in everyday life. At first, of course, you will feel pain in the muscles worked, but later you will notice how much the tone has increased in them. This will be especially useful for the elderly and those who lead a sedentary life, because with age and a sedentary lifestyle muscle tone decreases.

Flat belly

Pilates focuses on strengthening the core, which includes the abdominal muscles. Well, one of the benefits of Pilates is gaining the coveted flat stomach!

Flexibility

As we age, we lose the flexibility that we had when we were young. Pilates can restore this lost flexibility. With each class you will be surprised to see how young your body becomes again, i.e. flexible. Flexibility is important for health because a flexible body is resistant to injury, such as from a fall.

Balance, or the ability to maintain balance

Balance in motion or static is perfectly trained with Pilates. You will become much more aware of how your body moves. Good balance not only affects your posture, but also has a positive effect on your emotional state.

Inner peace and self-confidence

Slow meditative movements, steady breathing, and concentration on movements will lead to inner calm. A 12-week study of people with an average age of 57 showed that Pilates classes increased participants’ self-confidence and helped them release tension.

When you do Pilates, you’ll feel yourself get rid of stress and your thoughts are freed from anxiety and worry. Pilates is the best medicine for people with stressful lifestyles.

If you summarize the points above, it’s clear that it’s about psychophysical balance, which will improve already after the first Pilates class! The changes in your general well-being will be concrete proof of the benefits obtained from this effective system of exercise.

What areas of the body does Pilates work on?

Pilates mainly affects the cortex muscles, including the abdominal area and the spine. That’s why this system of exercise is beneficial for people who suffer from back pain.

In addition to the bark, Pilates exercises strengthen and tone the legs, especially the thighs and buttocks.

Pilates also helps people with arthritis to keep their joints flexible. Pilates strengthens the muscles in the hips, which is important for preventing arthritis and knee injuries.

Is it possible to lose weight with Pilates?

Since Pilates classes help strengthen the muscles, you can certainly use them to improve and tone certain areas of the body, especially the abdomen, legs and buttocks. Classes can be tailored to your individual needs – offering a gentler program of exercises to develop strength, flexibility and balance, or a more rigorous full-body workout.

Remember that Pilates is not considered an aerobic workout, so in order to lose weight, you must follow a healthy diet and do some regular aerobic exercise such as walking, swimming or cycling in addition to Pilates classes.

Who fits?

Pilates takes into account the individual physical characteristics of those who practice it. Therefore, this system of exercise is suitable for almost everyone.

Pilates is an excellent solution for those for whom impact training is contraindicated for various reasons. These can be joint diseases, vascular disorders. The possibility of injury is virtually zero – the low impact load and smooth movements allow even the elderly to exercise.

Pilates is also good for those who want to have a beautiful body and sculpt their body without strenuous training. Practicing regularly, you will strengthen your muscular corset, improve your posture and achieve the desired shape.

Another advantage of Pilates is that they can do it not only for advanced athletes, but also for beginners in the sport. And for advanced athletes, Pilates can be a great recovery program.

Contraindications

A great advantage of Pilates is the low intensity of exercise. Due to this feature, classes are indicated for people of any age and for those who are prohibited from heavy physical exertion. Nevertheless, in some cases it is better to refrain from classes. Those who have recently undergone surgery, people suffering from osteoporosis or diseases of the musculoskeletal system in the period of exacerbation, should not start training. Expectant mothers with a normal pregnancy can practice Pilates (there are even special groups for pregnant women). However, intensive workouts are contraindicated for them.

Conclusion

Pilates is a holistic practice based on a profound philosophy. It will give you a healthy body and inner harmony. With its help, you can sculpt your body to achieve the shapes you want and increase your awareness. If you decide to start exercising, the most important thing is regularity. Start exercising under the guidance of a qualified trainer, who will make an individual program for you, taking into account your goals and desires, as well as medical conditions. Believe me, a dream body is an attainable goal, and with such an enjoyable practice as Pilates, this goal is a pleasure to achieve! At BuiltByBeauty.com you can find a lot of fitness tips.

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