Benefits of Pilates - Little Mis-Fit

Pilates is one of my busiest classes on the timetable. More and more people are recognising the benefits, and with a host of celebrities showcasing their Pilates honed bodies, its becoming ever more Popular, but aside from the aesthetic side – think long lean bodies, there is a whole host of benefits of Pilates that work the body from the inside , out.

However I still get people who say, Ah I need to feel I’ve worked so I don’t think its for me . Haha I think the people who come to my Pilates class would beg to differ, especially if we do some PIIT – Pilates intense interval style training. Pilates maybe more low impact but its still provides a challenging workout, which works brilliantly alongside your HIIT, running and other cardio workouts.

So Here are just a few Benefits of incorporating a regular Pilates session into your workouts:-

Strengthens your Core . A lot of people tend to think of their core as just their abdominals, but actually your major Core muscles consists of your Pelvic floor muscles, Transversus abdominus, Multifidus , internal and external obliques, rectus abdominis, the Erector Spinae and your Diaphram . Also the Gluteus maximus, latissimus dorsi and trapezius muscles are also classed as minor Core muscles. In actual fact , pretty much the whole trunk of the body. Joseph Pilates classed this as the powerhouse of your body and when strong , creates the foundation for all movement.

Improved Bone density – Bone like muscle responds to Resistance and weight bearing exercises. Pilates can help strengthen our bones , reducing the risk of Osteoporosis , a condition which causes bones to become brittle and weak.

Can ease Back pain . Pilates can help relieve pressure and stress on the lower back and increase mobility in your spine, which can help reduce Back pain. The Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical therapy did a study and found that those with lower back pain, experienced a significant pain relief after a 4 week Pilates programme , kept up for a year long period.

4. Improves Flexibility, balance and increases strength. Pilates moves work to lengthen and strengthen muscles, improve Muscle elasticity and joint mobility. All of this combined helps lower the risk of injury . For example being able to improve Hamstring flexibility , lowers your risk of hurting your lower back, if you bend down to pick something up.

5. Its a fantastic cross training work out and will actually help condition the body and strengthen the Core to improve performance in higher impact workouts such as running and HIIT workouts.

Low impact but no less effective . Smaller moves and targeting some of the smaller muscles , which help support bigger muscles all help you see improvements in Strength . I find a lot of my class put more effort in to the Pilates class then they do in the High impact classes, maybe because they feel they can , you get out what you put in, so the greater the effort, the better the results!.

Improves Posture . Good Posture will help you instantly stand taller which is turn helps boost confidence levels and makes you look slimmer. In this day and age of hunching over laptops/mobiles and tablets, we are defiantly more rounded through the shoulders , giving us a more hunch back appearance!. We want to stand tall and proud!! . Good posture also leads us to the next benefit….

Helps improve breathing – learning to take full deep breaths helps oxygenate the blood and dispel carbon Dioxide from the body. Deep breathing helps stimulate the internal organs and helps the heart circulate fresh oxygenated blood throughout the body – a natural body cleanse!. When we are stressed or panicked or angry/upset, you notice your breath gets much shallower. Taking time out to just take deep breathes , will help calm your mind and deepen your breath to help you refocus and calm down.

Want that 6 pack?? – Great abs are definatly made in the kitchen , however Pilates will help to strengthen the Rectus Abdominis , the muscle responsible for that 6 pack. So eating healthy and working your core properly will defiantly help with defining those abs!.

Helps you connect mind, body and soul . The mental focus and controlled Breathing , help lower stress levels and as you flow through the moves, it helps you clear your mind of everything bar what you are doing in the present moment. When stressed , we are more likely to store fat around our tummies, so by doing a workout that helps us destress, can help shift that stress fat around our middles!.

Strengthens the pelvic floor muscles – (the muscles in your pelvis that support the bladder and uterus) this can help reduce stress incontinence – A lot of new mammies suffer from weak bladder after giving birth. and Strong Pelvic floor muscles also lead to more intense Orgasms leading to even hotter sex!. and for mammas to be – can defiantly help push that baby right out!