With a wide range of benefits, pilates is becoming increasingly popular among both beginners and fitness buffs alike. Whether you want to tone and strengthen your core, improve your posture or simply feel better on a daily basis, pilates can help achieve those goals. And the best part is that it can be done from home with a yoga mat or even just using streaming videos. However, it’s important to remember that you’re training your body to move differently and progressing too quickly may lead to injury.
For starters, it’s important to know that Pilates is a non-aerobic exercise, meaning it doesn’t work the muscles to the point of exhaustion. Instead, it requires you to find a center point to control movement from, as well as proper alignment.
In addition to strengthening and toning the muscles, Pilates also promotes flexibility, and it’s important to incorporate both stretches and mobility exercises into your routine. After all, strengthening your muscles can cause them to tighten, so incorporating some mobility exercises will ensure that you don’t end up with any stiffness or pain.
As for timing, many people prefer to practice Pilates in the morning so that they’re ready to face the day ahead of them. Others like to incorporate it into their evening routine as a way to wind down and ease the stress of the day. Whatever you choose, make sure to take your personal needs, schedule and budget into consideration as you decide how often and where to practice.