There are a lot of misconceptions about pilates. It’s been painted as being a low intensity workout for older people or only for females, but it’s not true at all. Pilates is actually a very challenging full body workout that will challenge your core and activate muscles you may not even know you had. The key is to start slowly, not push yourself too much and work your way up gradually. Whether you are doing Pilates at home on your own or with an instructor it is important to focus on the movement, breath and activation of the core. The benefits are endless, but the biggest benefit is gaining control over your body and finding strength in areas you didn’t think possible.
There is cautious support for the effectiveness of pilates in improving spinal and pelvic stability, abdominal and lumbo-pelvic muscle activity as well as flexibility (4). Pilates is great for anyone looking to build long lean muscles and add a low impact workout to their fitness regimen. It’s also a great workout for pregnant women and those who have recently given birth. Having strong core muscles will help ease the strain during childbirth and post pregnancy as well as provide good stability for everyday activities like bending over, picking things up or carrying heavy objects.
Before you begin a Pilates program it is important to talk to your doctor to see if it’s a suitable exercise for you. It’s also a good idea to start with an instructor, if you can, so they can help teach you proper form and to ensure you’re not progressing too quickly. If you’re unable to get into classes, there are some great Pilates YouTube instructors out there that can guide you through a workout at home.