Click on the link below to find out the role the 8 Principles play in the Pilates’ technique.
Pilates can be for everyone, regardless of age. Click below to find out more...
Pilates can even be beneficial during pregnancy, If this applies to you, click below to find out more...
Benefits of Pilates
Create better posture
Faulty postural alignment caused by excessive sitting leads to faulty movement patterns which, in turn, may lead to aches and pains and more often than not develop into chronic injury. The Pilates Institute Method includes exercises aimed at correcting such posture faults and faulty movement patterns.
Improve mobility, flexibility and strength
An issue that arises from poor posture is muscular imbalance which leads to limited mobility, flexibility and strength. Pilates' exercises provide a balanced workout focusing equally on length, strength and mobility.
Relieve stiffness and tension
Joint stiffness and tension, including headaches, can be alleviated in areas such as the neck and back. Good posture places the minimum amount of stress on the body and requires little muscle activity, so the body is more relaxed and needs less energy to maintain it.
Improve core strength
Good posture relies on the trunk being stable to support the spine. The muscles around the trunk are strengthened creating what the Pilates’ technique refers to as ‘a girdle of strength’. This strengthening process not only helps to stabilise the trunk and support the spine; it also tones the abdominal muscles. The spine is lengthened as posture improves resulting in less stress on both facet joints and discs. This means that joint damage, disc injury or nerve entrapment leading to pain may be alleviated.
Improve body shape
As muscles become stronger and more toned, the body’s metabolic rate increases helping us to burn more calories. Following a healthy eating plan and a Pilates’ exercise programme will increase the likelihood of inch loss as body fat will be reduced.
Increase bone density
Pilates is a weight bearing strength exercise programme that will improve bone density, and is especially beneficial for older women or anyone who does not participate in regular weight bearing exercise.
Improve mind and body awareness
The Pilates’ technique requires concentration in order to produce precise movements that will correct posture faults. After just a few classes, most participants notice that they become more body conscious and more able to focus their mind.
Improve co-ordination, control and balance.
Co-ordination helps us to carry out series of movements smoothly and efficiently as a result of the nervous system and muscular system working well together, and it improves with practice. Balance is important in both sports and daily life. As we age, our ability to balance diminishes increasing the risk of trips and falls which may lead to serious injury. Pilates’ exercises demand co-ordination, control and balance which not only influence our daily activities but are also essential in rehabilitation exercise programmes.
Aid relaxation
After attending relatively few Pilates’ classes, participants become more aware of tension in the body as a result of the stresses of modern-day living. This may lead them to giving more consideration to the role relaxation plays in managing these stresses.
Enhance sporting performance
Good posture is fundamental to all exercise. Many sportsmen and women focus more on improving aerobic fitness and muscular strength without paying attention to postural issues, and often experience injury as a result of accumulated stress on the body. Good posture not only reduces the likelihood of injury; it also improves the efficiency of the body resulting in better sporting performance.