Why Pilates?

With the amount of fitness style options popping up everywhere around us, some of you may be wondering why pilates? and what a great question!

Pilates (in all shapes and forms) offer numerous benefits that go beyond physical fitness. From improved posture and increased core strength, to enhanced body awareness and stress reduction, this form of exercise contributes to a holistic sense of well-being, both on a physical and mental scale.

Let’s circle back to the ‘all shapes and forms’ of pilates….

Classical pilates, contemporary pilates, mat, reformer, clinical, small group, one on one! There are endless options available out there to support each and every-bodies need. So where to start?

If you are just starting out in your pilates journey, no matter if you already have an active lifestyle or not, I would highly suggest to start with a one on one appointment to get properly ‘introduced’ shall we say. From there you can really start to understand the core concepts & terminologies that make up the Pilates method. It’s also a chance to become reacquainted with your body, how you are feeling, moving and responding to this type of movement practice. From there, you may like to dabble and explore the wider world of pilates with small or larger group mat and/or reformer classes or even stick with some personalised one to one support.

So how do you know what type of Pilates training you are receiving?

Most pilates studios in our current age will be practicing and teaching contemporary pilates. Not all, but most. Contemporary pilates extracts the classical repertoire and makes it more accessible to the general public. There will be the addition of props, more functional movements such as lunges and squats and many more, although this will vary with each studio and teacher.

If you still don’t have a clue what I am talking about regarding classical and contemporary, youTube or Google is a great place to get a basic idea on the differences. Both are pilates, both a great, just a little different that’s all. If you have a certain way you would like to move or practice, I would suggest to do some research around your local area and studios, go and meet the studio owners and ask questions, lots of questions!

Ok, so now we know the basics (we really are just scraping the surface) of why Pilates is so great (bias view here), let’s look at some of the benefits of a regular pilates practice.:

Strength

Pilates focuses on strengthening the deep stabilising muscles that help support and stabilise our skeletal body (skeleton) and larger muscle groups. Think the teeny tiny muscles that are working overtime (and under appreciated in my point of view), helping to support the bigger guys do their job. By developing and strengthening these muscles, we can improve stability, posture, and overall strength while enhancing mobility and freedom of movement. What a combination!

Improved Flexibility & Mobility

The controlled, focused movements and mobility work in pilates help improve flexibility and joint mobility. Regular practice can lead to an increased range of motion, movement and reduced muscle tension while maintaining strong, lean muscles. Think again of those small supporting muscle fibres helping to stabilise joints but also allowing freedom of movement! Hello strong, (but soft), buttery joints!

Body Awareness

Pilates practice emphasises alignment and body awareness, promoting conscious movement and postural corrections. This means we can start to develop a deeper understanding of our bodies and learn to move with increased efficiency and awareness of our unique movement patterns.

Stress Reduction (my favourite one)

Pilates isn’t all about strength, mobility & flexibility. Pilates has deep roots in breath work and the mechanics of breathing as a whole. Pilates uses the breath to aid and facilitate movement as well as to help reduce stress levels and promote mind-body connection. This allows the body to move in line with the breath, therefor optimising movement and overall health.

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To summarise, Pilates really is for every-body. There are endless options and types out there to suit everyones tastes and needs. It simply starts by giving it a go and having a little trust in the process. Oh yes, I must add, it’s not a quick fix- enjoy the ride and the journey of discovering you again.