What You Can Expect From a Pilates Workout?
Pilates is a fantastic choice of workout if you want to strengthen your core and improve your flexibility. You might associate Pilates with yoga, especially if you have seen people using Pilates mats, but it’s not exactly the same thing. Although it often involves stretching and is good for improving flexibility, it focuses on strength too. A Pilates workout might include using various types of equipment, although many moves can be done with just an exercise mat.
If you’re curious about Pilates and what you can expect from a Pilates workout, this guide will let you know some of the things you might discover and how you can benefit.
What Is Pilates?
Pilates is a form of exercise, which was invented in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates. It emphasizes a number of different things, including alignment, breathing, a strong core, coordination, and balance. The system is made up of different exercises, which can be performed in different ways and adjusted for people to meet varying levels of difficulty. Pilates is sometimes performed on a mat, but a Pilates workout might also include certain equipment such as the Pilates reformer, Pilates chair, blocks, and other equipment. If you want to book a Pilates class, you will find a range of classes using different equipment and for different experience levels.
Pilates Exercises
There are many different Pilates exercises, which can be chosen and adjusted to match your capabilities. You can take a Pilates class, or you might consider using instruction from videos at home. However, having an instructor help you will ensure you get a more personalized workout. The exercises used in a workout will partly depend on the equipment used. The two main types of Pilates classes are mat classes and reformer classes.
Many classes will feature the same groups of exercises. These include The Hundred, a breathing and core strengthening exercise, the roll-up, leg circles, rolling like a ball, and Series of 5, which is a group of exercises for strengthening the abdomen and back.
The Benefits of Pilates
Pilates delivers a number of benefits and can be an excellent part of your workout routine. It’s a low-impact activity, which makes it great for anyone who wants to be kinder to their joints. The exercises are designed to help strengthen your core muscles, which can be good for your back and could be part of your efforts to relieve back pain. Pilates exercises also help to improve flexibility and strengthen other muscles in the body too. Pilates delivers a medium-intensity workout that takes effort but won’t necessarily push you too hard.
Attending a Pilates Workout
To get the most from a Pilates class, you should choose a small class. Small groups or even one-to-one work for reformer Pilates and other apparatus is best, while a maximum of around 12 is good for mat work. A Pilates class will typically last around 45 to 60 minutes.
Adding Pilates to your workout routine is a good way to improve your strength and flexibility using a low-impact form of exercise that’s suitable for anyone. You can review our Pilates at HealthSPORT classes here.
