Pilates is one of the famous and highly preferred workout routines. There is a reason for it being this popular. Actually, not just one reason, there are several. The list of benefits of Pilates is never-ending. Here are some of the topmost ones, enough to make you get out of your bed and join a Pilates class straightaway.
- Amazing for your abs
- Best for easing back pains
- Improved flexibility
- It helps in increasing your muscle strength and improves muscle strength, especially of abdominal muscles.
- Balanced muscular strength on both sides of your body
- Enhanced muscular control of your back and limbs
- Improved stabilization of your spine
- Improved posture
- Rehabilitation or prevention of injuries related to muscle imbalances
- Improved physical coordination and balance
- Relaxation of your shoulders, neck and upper back
- Boosts brainpower
- Safe rehabilitation of joint and spinal injuries
- Prevention of musculoskeletal injuries
- Increased lung capacity and circulation through deep breathing
- Improved concentration
- Increased body awareness
- Stress management and relaxation
- Whole-body fitness
- Creates strength without bulk
- Promotes weight loss and long, lean appearance
- Eases your joints
Before You Start, You Should Know The 8 Principles Of Pilates:
1. Breathing: This is the most basic and foremost principle for Pilates. The periodic deep breathing, which is synced with the Pilates workout, increases the intake of Oxygen and thereby improving the blood circulation and that helps in bodily in-house cleaning of the body. A full inhalation and complete exhalation are keys to a healthy body. While doing Pilates, people are supposed to completely squeeze out the lungs while exhalation and make the lungs expand to their highest capacity during inhalation.
2. Concentration: The second core principle i, of course, the concentration. You need to focus and monitor your breathing pattern and keep it periodic. Also, the exercise needs focus as the way of doing an exercise is more important than the exercise itself.
3. Control: The inventor of Pilates, Joseph Pilates actually called it Contrology and this itself depicts the importance of this principle. This is based on the idea of the complete muscle control needed during a Pilates All exercises are to be done under control of the muscles working against gravity.
4. Centering: For controlling your body, you need a starting place – the center. So if control is one of the principles, then centering definitely is. In Pilates, a group of muscles termed as the powerhouse – the abdomen, lower and upper back, hips, buttocks, and inner thighs, is the center. Each movement in Pilates begins from the center and moves outwards – towards the limbs.
5. Flow: Pilates is focused on control and to maintain that you need a flow of movements. It focuses on gaining more from a few energetic movements than many listless and halfhearted ones.
6. Postural Alignment: This is necessary to avoid injuries and to gain the maximum benefit of any Pilates The correct postural arrangement also eliminates muscle imbalances.
7. Precision: Precision is as essential in Pilates as water is for life. The precise and perfect movement can help you get a perfect flow needed to build strength and stamina.
8. Relaxation: If you need precision, you definitely need relaxation. If not, then the efficiency is lessened. Proper and periodic relaxation of muscles can help enhance mental concentration and gain the required firing patterns for the movements.
Keeping in mind these principles, you are ready to start your Pilates routine. If all these principles are perfectly implemented during Pilates, you will get to know the true virtue of a Pilates workout. Well, consistency is also an important factor in this. You need to maintain the regularity of your Pilates workout.