If you've been seeking for a new workout regimen that will provide you with a nice balance of flexibility, strength, muscular tone, and relief from a few aches and pains, there may be a solution that's easier to implement than you think.
Despite the fact that Pilates has been around for nearly 100 years, it is still gaining popularity among new converts, with new devotees joining all the time. And there's a reason it's still a popular kind of exercise: it works.
Other advantages, according to lead yoga therapist Judi Bar, include enhanced flexibility, muscle tone, and strength. We spoke with Bar about these advantages as well as other parts of Pilates that make it a worthwhile attempt.
WHAT EXACTLY IS PILATES?
Pilates attempts to develop the body evenly, with a focus on core strength, in order to increase overall fitness and well-being.
Pilates exercises are performed on a mat or with the use of special equipment such as the Reformer, Cadillac, and Wunda Chair. The equipment, with its system of pulleys and springs, grips and straps, can give either resistance or support, depending on your needs.
Pilates was created by German-born Joseph Pilates, who thought that mental and physical health were inextricably linked. Western styles of exercise, including as gymnastics, boxing, and Greco-Roman wrestling, impacted his practice. Pilates emigrated to the United States in the 1920s and established a studio in New York, where he taught his approach – dubbed "contrology" – for several decades.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF PILATES FOR HEALTH?
Pilates has a therapeutic, preventative advantage, since it isolates and relaxes muscular regions while strengthening them with control and breath. It can also give you more resilience and aid with your alignment in a way that improves your posture, allowing you to walk straighter and sturdier.
Like yoga, one of the best benefits is the sense of well-being that comes from feeling better. It strengthens your core and, in the end, it can help with lower back pain since, in addition to tight muscles, lower back discomfort is caused by misalignment and a lack of strength.
Even something as simple as improving posture can have a significant influence. Relaxing and strengthening your muscles, like not hunching on the back of a chair, greatly benefits your body. When you're slumped against the back of a chair, shrunk down, placing pressure on your lower back, you can't digest or breathe as well.
Pilates also helps us become more conscious of our bodies. We'll feel better if we exercise to get the blood circulating and our muscles stronger, which may help with your painful lower back.
However, there are two caveats. First and foremost, be certain that you have a qualified tutor. 'Whether you're doing it alone or in a group, it has to start at your level and progressively develop in difficulty.' You can't just jump right in, and your instructor needs to realize that.
Second, incorporating movements other than Pilates into your training is essential. It is not always a stand-alone exercise. Because you're exercising muscle groups, your heart rate will rise, but not as dramatically as it would during a cardiovascular workout. There is some intense stretching and resistance, but it should be used as part of a well-rounded training plan.
CAN I GET HURT DOING PILATES?
Because Pilates is a low-impact workout, injuries are unusual. However, it is critical to choose a trained instructor and a program that is appropriate for your level of fitness and skill.
The majority of pilates instructors are not licensed health professionals. If you're recovering from an injury, you should consult with your doctor or a competent health expert about the suitability of specific exercises or motions before beginning a class.
THE DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN PILATES AND YOGA
A newbie may initially confuse certain components of Pilates, such as mat exercises, with yoga. Some components of Pilates, such as the movements and awareness, may remind you of yoga, but there are numerous key differences.
While the approaches differ, pilates and yoga both help to build strength, balance, flexibility, posture, and proper breathing technique.
Both systems emphasize the link between physical and mental health, with yoga emphasizing relaxation and the use of meditation. Pilates is done on apparatus as well as mats, whereas traditional yoga is done on the floor.
Pilates movements are performed in a fluid motion, as opposed to the static positions associated with yoga.
CONCLUSION
Pilates can be taught in a studio or in an open space with mats and equipment. Most courses last 45 minutes to an hour, with mat work lasting 1-2 hours. Before enrolling in a group apparatus lesson, it is recommended that you have some prior familiarity with the apparatus.