The beginners guide to pilates and the hype around the exercise craze

Author: Kari Jackson

Pilates has been gaining traction over the past few years and has earned a new set of followers. Celebrities like Sylvester Stallone, Lebron James, Miley Cyrus, and Jennifer Aniston swear by the exercise and say that it has sculpted their bodies, made them fit, and helped them maintain a healthy lifestyle. This set of celebrities proves that pilates is not catered towards one specific audience. Anyone can do pilates, and there are many great benefits.

One of the best things about pilates is that it is easier on the joints and provides a challenging workout. If you have ever done pilates, you can attest to the fact that it is not as easy as it looks. Pilates was initially created for dancers due to the repetitive movements they are used to with their training. Pilates created a way for them to stretch their muscles and recreate an even balance within the body. The exercise regimen eventually stretched beyond the dance studio and reached a larger audience. The structure of pilates focuses on the concentration of body movements, the usage of the abdomen, controlled movements, and focused breathing. It is a type of strength training exercise that targets the trunk of the body. The trunk, in this instance, refers to the lower abdomen, lower back, hips, and butt. Instead of building a lot of new muscle, the purpose is to tone and refine the existing muscles. This is the look that draws so many to the exercise. People who practice pilates regularly are toned and lean.

There are great health benefits to practicing pilates. By increasing your core strength, there are many positive benefits that follow. Back pain can subside, injuries take less time to heal, and gait strength increases. Core strength is essential to a healthy and well-balanced body, and pilates does a great job targeting this area. Pilates is also a great way to help improve posture and increase flexibility. This again goes back to having a strong core. By increasing core strength, your posture will improve. Good posture is important, because over the years, poor posture can cause health issues. Flexibility is another great plus of pilates. Stretching is a key component, so this leads to an increase in flexibility. This is great for preventing injuries and maintaining a good range of motion. If you don’t use it, you lose it, so keeping up your stretching regimen is essential.

Pilates can be described as a mix between yoga and working out. There is a great mind-to-body connection happening, so you can get in touch with yourself. You must focus on breathing, technique, and how your body feels. This makes it a great exercise for getting in tune with your body and creating a peaceful exercise routine. You can start slow and work your way up to an intense regimen. Pilates can be as easy or as hard as you want it to be. Some implement pilates a few times a week into their workout routine, and some use pilates as their primary source of exercise. The main drawback to pilates is that it doesn’t get the heart rate up to a high level. It is recommended to add cardio and weight training to your weekly workouts to maintain a well-rounded routine.

This type of exercise is known to be a bit pricey, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you go to a studio or do it at home, this is a great exercise to implement. One of the most famous parts of pilates is the use of the reformer. The reformer is a bed-like machine that rolls along with your body movements. There are straps for your feet for certain exercises. Many different styles of exercises can be performed on a reformer, which adds to the appeal. With such a diverse way to use the machine, it helps beginner pilates members get a good routine down. The reformer targets flexibility, coordination, and strength. The reformer is great because it can be used for beginners or experts alike. If you don’t have access to a reformer, don’t worry. There are plenty of exercises that can be performed at home. Pilates is all about the mind-to-muscle connection and strengthening the trunk. There are hundreds of workouts you can do at home that fall into this category. A great way to get into pilates is by following a guided YouTube tutorial. Most of these videos can be performed anywhere and are great for beginners.

Overall, pilates is a great way to get in tune with your body and get some great exercise in. If you haven’t already tried it, implement it into your next workout! It could be the start of a new passion!