Exercise is important for our physical and mental well-being and this is a well-known fact throughout the world. As we see more and more people thinking about adopting some kind of a fitness routine, it is also important to first know about what you are getting into before you begin. There are different approaches one can take towards fitness and Pilates is increasingly becoming one of the most popular ways that people choose to include exercising into their daily life routine.
At times people may feel bored of their current fitness routine and want to make some changes. In such cases, trying out something new like Pilates may just be the change that they need to feel refreshed and more enthusiastic towards working out.
Pilates is rather versatile in that you can do it in a gym or studio, however, you do not need to do so. If you do not yet feel comfortable with attending a class offering Pilates near you, in person, then you can always find online options as well.
No matter which way you choose to participate, you may find that exploring the form of Pilates can change the way you manage your fitness routine. Pilates will take care of your need to make improvements in your movement. While it is a graceful form, it is equally challenging to those who practice it.
At times people may feel bored of their current fitness routine and want to make some changes. In such cases, trying out something new like Pilates may just be the change that they need to feel refreshed and more enthusiastic towards working out.
Pilates is rather versatile in that you can do it in a gym or studio, however, you do not need to do so. If you do not yet feel comfortable with attending a class offering Pilates near you, in person, then you can always find online options as well.
No matter which way you choose to participate, you may find that exploring the form of Pilates can change the way you manage your fitness routine. Pilates will take care of your need to make improvements in your movement. While it is a graceful form, it is equally challenging to those who practice it.
So How Does Pilates Work ?
Being a form of exercise that is low impact, its focus is on strengthening the muscles and improving your posture, as well as flexibility. Usually, Pilates sessions take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour. Pilates workouts can be done both with or without equipment. The movements involved during typical Pilates classes are precise, slow and include controlling your breath. The form of Pilates is similar to yoga and the main focus is a concentration on building core strength. The exercises also work on other parts of your body, as it does not work on only a specific part of the body at a time.
The Pilates form was initially designed to work on the abdominal muscles or the core, it includes more than just the abdomen such areas as the hips, thighs and back. The entire workout will include exercises that engage other parts, such as your arms and lower legs. Hence, we can see that the whole body joins in the process.
Before you get started, check out these helpful tips on how to ease into your first experience of Pilates.
The Pilates form was initially designed to work on the abdominal muscles or the core, it includes more than just the abdomen such areas as the hips, thighs and back. The entire workout will include exercises that engage other parts, such as your arms and lower legs. Hence, we can see that the whole body joins in the process.
Before you get started, check out these helpful tips on how to ease into your first experience of Pilates.
1. Pilates Equipment
When enrolling for Pilates near you, it is usually either for reformer Pilates or mat Pilates. The sessions will either involve a mat or something called a reformer. A reformer is a machine that consists of a sliding platform, some springs, pulleys and more. The mat must be thicker than the usual yoga mat, to provide cushioning for pressure points. Both ways are aimed at maintaining control, instead of the usual repetitive actions seen in other forms of fitness techniques.
The items used in more advanced Pilates sessions include the Wunda chair, the Cadillac, the magic circle and more. Before diving into trying out all this equipment, as a beginner, you should first let your instructor know that you are just starting so that you can learn how to use them properly and safely.
The items used in more advanced Pilates sessions include the Wunda chair, the Cadillac, the magic circle and more. Before diving into trying out all this equipment, as a beginner, you should first let your instructor know that you are just starting so that you can learn how to use them properly and safely.
2. A Different Focus and Approach Towards Exercise
The form of Pilates is not designed to achieve strength through muscle exhaustion. Here, your muscles are strengthened by working against the force of gravity and the equipment. This effort goes towards building the right muscles. It is important to remember that you should take your time while performing these exercises and focus on the movements, as well as controlling your breath.
3. Exercise Repetition
When the form of Pilates was developed, it was created to include a lot of repetition of moves in the beginning levels. Doing this helps you get familiar with the movements and stretches, allowing your muscles to build. As you continue to do more Pilates exercises, your progress will start to show in muscle strength.
4. Pilates At Your Convenience
Pilates is a vastly different form of exercise compared to other forms of fitness routines. The difference lies in the fact that Pilates does not require muscle exhaustion like the other forms of working out. However, this does not mean that Pilates sessions fail to give an intense workout. The moves involved in a typical Pilates class include constant movement that causes your muscles to burn. You will most likely experience this muscle burn during these sessions and after them, for the next day or two.
The soreness one experiences after Pilates are different from those of other fitness regimes. This is felt as you may even find yourself discovering new muscles that you were previously unaware of. Soreness and burn are nothing to worry about at the end of the day. They simply mean that your muscles are being challenged and as you continue, your body will get used to this much movement. However, you should always remember that burning and soreness should not be the goal and it does not determine whether your workout was successful or not.
The soreness one experiences after Pilates are different from those of other fitness regimes. This is felt as you may even find yourself discovering new muscles that you were previously unaware of. Soreness and burn are nothing to worry about at the end of the day. They simply mean that your muscles are being challenged and as you continue, your body will get used to this much movement. However, you should always remember that burning and soreness should not be the goal and it does not determine whether your workout was successful or not.
5. Pilates Attire
Wearing the right clothes during your workout can help you exercise more comfortably. While wearing loose clothing might seem comfortable, it is better to wear body-fitting attire during sessions. This makes your clothing less likely to get caught up in any equipment and your instructor will be able to see if you are performing the exercises correctly. Where footwear is concerned, you may need to wear socks or go barefoot. This will depend on the kind of exercises you are going to do.
6. Avoid Too Much Working Out
Studios or gyms can sometimes offer multiple sessions of Pilates in a week or even a day. Online classes can also be accessed again and again. However, it is important to remember that this is not for the purpose of taking several classes in a week. Letting your body take a rest for a day or two, before going to the next class is just as essential to the fitness process. The body needs time to recover from such tiring exercises as Pilates. The strengthening of muscles is achieved through stretching along with aligning your body. All these activities complement any other fitness routine you try after Pilates workouts. Pilates helps with lifting weights, running, stretching, balance and much more.
7. Pilates As a Side Routine
It is often recommended that you include not only Pilates into your fitness routine but also other ways of working out. Other forms of workouts are important and can be combined with Pilates to give your routine a more well-rounded feel. If you do running or weight lifting, adding Pilates to the mix will benefit you greatly in warm-ups, as an example.
8. Avoiding Injuries Caused by Pilates
When you are still in the beginning stages of Pilates, taking precautions to avoid injury is incredibly important. In this regard, muscle burn or soreness is not the concern. The focus is on avoiding serious damage that is possible if one is not careful enough. You can avoid injury by not overworking your body and your muscles. Follow the directions given by the instructor and know what your bodily limits are while performing the moves. Keep in mind that muscles require time for recovery.
Having lower backaches and pain in your joints can be common injuries when you practice Pilates. If you are not able to move properly or feel pain for more than two days after a workout, you might need to consider going to a doctor. While it is impossible to prevent injury to the fullest, it is still important to do whatever you can to avoid getting injured. Some ways that you can help avoid injury is by starting with the basics in Pilates movements. Taking your time to focus while performing the moves or doing warm-ups can help considerably.
After all these tips for beginners, you might be asking yourself, what are the benefits of taking a class on Pilates near me?
Pilates is a method of exercise that involves the entire body, bringing its benefits to everything that you do. It not only strengthens your core, but also other muscles around the body. Doing Pilates helps in improving your overall balance, flexibility, posture and more. With Pilates, we find attention to the core and full-body strength, which is hard to find in other fitness routines.
Having lower backaches and pain in your joints can be common injuries when you practice Pilates. If you are not able to move properly or feel pain for more than two days after a workout, you might need to consider going to a doctor. While it is impossible to prevent injury to the fullest, it is still important to do whatever you can to avoid getting injured. Some ways that you can help avoid injury is by starting with the basics in Pilates movements. Taking your time to focus while performing the moves or doing warm-ups can help considerably.
After all these tips for beginners, you might be asking yourself, what are the benefits of taking a class on Pilates near me?
Pilates is a method of exercise that involves the entire body, bringing its benefits to everything that you do. It not only strengthens your core, but also other muscles around the body. Doing Pilates helps in improving your overall balance, flexibility, posture and more. With Pilates, we find attention to the core and full-body strength, which is hard to find in other fitness routines.
1. It Helps With Daily Movements
Pilates brings improvements to your general movement on daily activities, as well as your other fitness workouts. This is why Pilates is generally seen as a good addition to any other form of exercise that a person may practice.
2. Relieves Stress and Tension
Pilates brings improvements to your general movement on daily activities, as well as your other fitness workouts. This is why Pilates is generally seen as a good addition to any other form of exercise that a person may practice.
3. Anyone Can Join
One of the best benefits may well be that people of all ages can take up a Pilates class. From beginners to athletes, everyone can reap the benefits of Pilates. It is the movements involved in Pilates that help with alignment and the connection built between the body and the mind that makes it so open for all. However, if you have a medical condition, it is advisable to consult your doctor first.
4. Can be Tailored to your Specific Needs
Pilates workouts can be tailored to your specific needs, with thousands of variations in exercises, you can change the exercises. For example, a gym offering sessions of mat Pilates near you for pregnant women will be vastly different in form in comparison to the usual workouts. Similarly, one can make a separate Pilates workout for people with injuries after making the necessary adjustments.
5. Tones your Muscles
In a Pilates workout, the muscles are not only strengthened, but also toned in such a way that it helps your overall functioning in daily life. Pilates is also known to have a strengthening effect on the lower body, posture and positive effects on the quality of life people lead.
6. Boosts Energy your Levels
As any form of exercise does, Pilates stimulates the muscles, encourages the flow of breath through the body. All this helps to increase energy levels after exercising, giving you more energy and the will to do more exercises in the future. This is one reason why Pilates makes a great combination with any other form of exercise.
7. Easy to Access
Most of the places that offer Mat Pilates near you are usually gyms, studios and other places. They are also available online which makes them extremely accessible for those who want to give it a try.
8. Helps with Flexibility
The Pilates workout contains several stretching exercises that help with increasing the length of your muscles and their stretch. These exercises help you to have a body that can do the usual activities involved in daily living. Stretching exercises increase your range of motion so that you meet your health and fitness goals.
Overall, Pilates offers a great form of working out, whether you are using it as the foundation of your fitness routine by combining it with another way of working out or just as a good way to start your journey into fitness. It is low impact and has several great benefits for not only your physical fitness but also in the realm of mental well-being. Hence, the beauty of Pilates lies in the multiple ways that it can benefit your life.
Overall, Pilates offers a great form of working out, whether you are using it as the foundation of your fitness routine by combining it with another way of working out or just as a good way to start your journey into fitness. It is low impact and has several great benefits for not only your physical fitness but also in the realm of mental well-being. Hence, the beauty of Pilates lies in the multiple ways that it can benefit your life.
