What are the Benefits of Pilates?

Pilates is a type of exercise system that is focused on body conditioning and core strengthening. There are many reasons a person may do Pilates; it is said to help strengthen the body and increase flexibility. Increased endurance, improved circulation, and better coordination are also among the benefits of Pilates. Often people do Pilates to not only strengthen the body, but also to help sculpt it. Pilates is even said to help a person enjoy improved posture and all-around better health.

Developed by Joseph Pilates, this physical fitness system is often used by people who want to feel better and stronger, both physically and mentally. These exercises focus on controlled movements that can be performed on exercise mats or using equipment that is designed to help a person tone his body and increase his strength. Unlike some other fitness systems, Pilates is intended to involve the whole body in a low-impact workout while focusing a good deal of attention on proper breathing and good form.

One of the main benefits of Pilates is that it is so different from other types of workouts. Often, people spend too much time on developing one part of their bodies yet leave others virtually untouched. When people do Pilates, however, they do focus a great deal of energy on building core strength, but the exercises work the entire body. Likewise, this fitness system isn’t aimed at simply building strength while neglecting flexibility or vice versa; it allows exercisers to improve strength, stamina, and flexibility while also increasing their range of motion. Additionally, this fitness system incorporates breathing and mind-and-body connection in a way that many other workouts do not.

Another one of the benefits of Pilates is that it allows exercisers to build their strength without adding on a lot of bulk at the same time. While some people exercise in the hopes of building bigger, more showy muscles, others prefer long, lean muscle. Pilates emphasizes a type of muscle contraction that is called eccentric and helps to create long, lean muscles. Essentially, an eccentric contraction means an external force lengthens a muscle while the muscle is contracting.

For some people, one of the most important benefits of Pilates is that it can help a person lose weight. Pilates, especially when done in conjunction with aerobics, can help a person to burn excess fat. It’s also very effective for toning, which helps a person to look leaner.