What’s all the hype about Pilates?

Some of you may be asking what Pilates actually is and why bother doing it? I will explain the benefits and reason why we should all be incorporating a little Pilates into our everyday lives.

Pilates is a holistic form of exercise that was developed by Joseph Pilates with the intention of strengthening the mind and the body. Joseph Pilates believed that mental and physical health, were interrelated and developed a form of exercise that incorporated the body as a whole, without over-developing certain areas of the body, while neglecting others. Pilates is a whole body exercise, with a focus on the breath.

There are several benefits of Pilates and therefore, several reasons why we could all benefit from this form of exercise. Pilates focuses on core strength and recognises the body as a whole. Generally when we exercise, we tend to work on specific muscle groups or we do repetitive exercises. The difference with Pilates is that you still get benefits of exercise but you are focusing on your whole body. You can expect to be a bit sore after your first class and if you continue to participate regularly, you will experience all the benefits of exercise including increased sense of wellbeing, increased detoxification processes of the body, weight loss, decreased stress levels, improved sleep and reduced risk of disease.

Studies have shown that regular Pilates can improve flexibility, dynamic balance and muscular endurance and can reduce back pain. These benefits have been found to be particularly true for older adults. The movements in Pilates are focused on flexibility, muscular endurance, balance and posture alignment. This is the reason that many athletes choose to incorporate some form of Pilates into their training program, as it can help improve their performance in their chosen sport and many people with back pain or injuries choose to participate in Pilates, as it can help to effectively reduce and manage pain.

Participating in a regular Pilates class can improve your energy because it promotes circulation and blood flow and is focused on the breath, which increases oxygen in the body. In addition to this, Pilates may decrease stress and improve your mental health, as each exercise requires the participant to focus their whole attention on the exercise and the breath, so we are also practicing mindfulness and presence.

Pilates is a type of exercise that is suitable for almost everyone. It can be adapted to suit anyone of any gender, age and fitness level. It is never to late to start Pilates and experience the many benefits.

If you want to learn more about Pilates get in touch or if you would like to try a class, use the link below to book in!

https://www.paradiseholistichealth.com.au/book-online