What is Pilates? 

Pilates is a low-impact training system which was created by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th Century. Through a series of precise, controlled movements it targets all muscle groups in the body whilst working on posture, functionality and flexibility.

What are the Benefits? 

Pilates will improve your posture, by focusing on alignment and balance. Modern life – doubled up over screens, bent over desks, stressing about deadlines – takes a considerable toll on posture and this has an effect on our physical and emotional wellbeing. Shoulders become rounded and the head pokes forward. As a result the muscles around our chest tighten, the ribcage is restricted and we breathe in a faster and more shallow way. The muscles around the chest start having to work harder than they should and restrictions and pain follow.  

Pilates will increase your core muscle strength. Why is this important? Many of us lead very sedentary lives which leads to weak muscles. This puts us at an increased risk of injury and chronic pain. Your core muscles are the base of support for your entire body. They surround and support your spine and pelvis and connect your upper body with your lower body. Most importantly however, they help you stay upright.

Your core muscles play a huge role in your everyday activities, from getting off the sofa, to emptying the dishwasher, and bending over to put on your shoes. They are the muscles that brace for support, almost before anything else. If they’re not switched on and engaged, other muscles will step in and compensate.

Pilates will increase your awareness of the core muscles and teach you how to activate and strengthen them. Once you know how to do this, it’s much easier to activate those muscles in all activities and exercises.

Pilates will relax your mind and body. Your body awareness is heightened by focusing on the mind-body connection required for these exercises – Pilates focuses on breathing and literally teaches you to be in control of your body and move with precision. This allows you to handle stress more effectively and achieve relaxation more easily.

Last but definitely not least, Pilates will improve your balance, due to all the small, precise movements that strengthen your deep stabilising muscles. Balance is the ability to control your body’s position, whether stationary, or while moving (e.g. skiing). Balance training is often neglected and this is because many people don’t understand why it is important.

Why is it important to include Balance training within your workout?

• Balance training improves body awareness, which decreases the likelihood of injury. Body awareness is the sense of where your limbs are in space, also known as proprioception.

• Good balance promotes stables knees, ankles, hips, and shoulders. This can prevent a large array of injuries including sprained ankles and serious knee problems.

• Improving your balance can also help with performing your daily activities like standing on tiptoes to reach something on the top shelf, walking up and down the stairs, or walking on an uneven terrain without falling.

• Balance training improves your coordination. This will translate into better coordination in everyday life. Good coordination makes your muscles work together at just the right time to produce the exact amount of force needed to carry out activities smoothly.

• Balance training can improve your reaction time. If you happen to slip or stumble when performing balance exercises, your body needs to re-balance immediately or you will fall. This in turn will improve your reaction time in everyday life.

• Incorporating balance training into your exercise routine helps to maintain or improve your balance, which is needed to prevent falls and fractures. As we age, our balance can deteriorate, something we want to avoid.

Ideal for sportspeople too

Practised by the New Zealand All Blacks, England Cricket team & many Olympic Athletes, Pilates will improve your sports performance too. If you are a runner, you will appreciate the opportunity to enjoy mat-based Pilates. It is a low-impact, strength workout that has been shown to help ease lower back pain. Pilates can also encourage runners to properly stretch and rebalance muscles and joints that they are often too fatigued to do properly at the end of a long run.

All of the exercises are scalable

Don’t worry. Pilates isn’t just for professional athletes. All of the moves in a Pilates class can be scaled to your fitness level and preferences, while still providing the same benefits. It’s the perfect fit for everyone - from experienced practitioners to fitness newbies. 

You may arrive at a class feeling tense and compressed, but you will leave walking taller and feeling lengthened and released. Over time, you will become far more aware of how you are sitting, standing and moving.  Pilates promotes good movement!

Are you ready for your first Pilates class?