Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Pilates
Pilates is a well-practiced exercise method inspired by the likes of ballet, yoga and calisthenics, and was introduced during World War I to help manage injury and recovery. Today, as a low-impact workout, Pilates offers a number of benefits that anyone, of any age or shape, can take advantage of for a happier, healthier life.
Controlled breathing and movement, coupled with meditation and exercise, has made Pilates popular around the world. ‘The Pilates method’ has seen success as a fitness method and in conjunction with wellness and recovery programs!
What are the Benefits of Pilates?
Pilates has become popular since its introduction in the 1920s and is practiced all around the world today. Unlike many exercises, Pilates requires you to move slowly and precisely while making use of proper breathing. The technique offers a range of impactful physical and mental health benefits.
Increased Strength and Flexibility
Pilates strengthens all the muscles in your body using a combination of dynamic and static strength training. Each exercise technique ensures that all the muscles in the body get targeted and that no muscle groups are ignored.
Using dynamic movement, Pilates gently stretches and lengthens the muscles while also increasing the range of motion in the joints, ultimately boosting one’s flexibility. Improved flexibility is linked to health benefits such as reduced muscle soreness, enhanced blood flow and reduced risk of injury.
Improved Posture and Balance
A good sense of balance can improve your every-day life. By improving your balance and coordination, you also promote joint stability, helping prevent sprained ankles and sore joints. Pilates can effectively improve your balance with little to no exertion, unlike other workout methods, which makes it ideal for injured or older individuals.
Every exercise completed in your Pilates class promotes proper skeletal alignment. They strengthen the muscles which are responsible for good posture, and improved posture allows you to move more freely, breathe more easily and avoid health complications associated with poor posture, such as poor blood circulation, backache, neck pain and tightness in the chest.
How Pilates Helps with Stress and Anxiety
Pilates can assist in reducing or managing feelings of stress by providing the opportunity to socialise with others; by changing the levels of important chemicals in the brain (such as serotonin, endorphins, and cortisol); and even by providing a distraction from the elements in our lives that cause us to feel anxious, depressed or stressed.
Practicing Pilates regularly as a form of exercise can also help improve your ability to respond to and deal with stress, allowing you to become more resilient to external stressors in the future.
Look and Feel Great with Pilates
The benefits of Pilates are holistic, impactful, and could change your life for the better. On top of the physical and mental health benefits listed above, Pilates is a fantastic way to get fit, healthy and to look great!
Club Pilates has several studios that are fully equipped to provide intensive, hands-on training and wellness sessions. The Club Pilates instructors provide a meaningful experience, and all class types can be scheduled to suit you. Sign up at a local studio today to start enjoying the benefits of Pilates!
