What are the Benefits of Pilates?
P
ilates is a low-impact form of exercise that combines deep breathing with gentle stretching to boost strength, balance, and mobility. Workouts target your “powerhouse” your abs, lower back, pelvic floor, hips, and glutes. Founder Joseph Pilates and his wife Clara developed it to help World War I soldiers restore their inner strength (both literally and figuratively), and millions of practitioners worldwide swear by its mind-body benefits to this day. In Pilates the quality of movement is more important than the quantity of repetitions. Correct breathing is essential, and helps you execute movements with maximum power and efficiency, learning to breathe properly can reduce stress. Pilates exercises will help you develop a strong “core,” or center of the body. The core consists of the deep abdominal muscles along with the muscles closest to the spine. Pilates improves flexibility and increases muscle strength and tone, it also improves concentration, body awareness and stress management. Arguably the most important health benefit received from Pilates is all about good posture and the calming self-confidence boost that comes with it. What Pilates classes are there? Pilates Matwork Classes The most popular form of Pilates is matwork. Matwork is a more traditional form of Pilates, which as it has been developed has incorporated the use of equipment such as balls, stretch bands, foam rollers or magic circles.
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High Intensity Power Pilates HIP Pilates is a more dynamic form of Pilates that combines the precision and focus of a traditional Pilates session with the dynamic energy of a high intensity workout. Combining core strength, balance and coordination with an energetic cardiovascular element HIP Pilates is the answer to many people’s search for a functional ‘feel good’ workout. The class is fast paced, but importantly LOW impact. Therefore, you will increase your heart rate safely whilst burning fat and building lean muscle mass. The class also uses light hand weights, which improve bone health. It was Joseph Pilates who said: “true flexibility can be achieved only when all muscles are uniformly developed.” So rather than saying you can’t do Pilates because you are not flexible enough, you should actually participate in Pilates exercises to improve your flexibility. Pilates is for life and can be life changing, so join a Pilates class now! To find a qualified teacher, visit the Body Control Pilates website Jules Hardman Body Control Pilates Teacher www.jules-pilates-alderleyedge.co.uk
