When devising a workout routine, most people focus only on cardio exercises. However, for a stable and balanced workout session, you need to divide your time and exercises between aerobic activities and strength training. As such, Pilates is an excellent way to increase your strength and work on your core, and with the proper Pilates equipment, you can live a flexible lifestyle.
What Is It?
Named after a German physical trainer, Joseph Pilates, it became a unique approach to strengthening and training your body in the 20th century. Pilates strengthens your core muscles through stretching, breathing, and movement exercises. And unlike yoga, which is a meditative exercise to enhance your balance, it focuses on your back muscles and core strength to improve your balance and posture. So, with a mat, the proper routine, a healthy diet, and determination, your body and mind will work in synchronization in no time.
What Does It Offer?
What makes Pilates a go-to exercise alongside cardio are its never-ending perks, including:
A Healthy Core
Your core muscles – pelvic floor, back, diaphragm, and abdomen – save your backbone from crumbling under excessive pressure, balance your lower and upper body load, and prevent you from getting injured. So, keeping your core muscles strong is essential to remain healthy. As such, the technic works on your core muscles and allows them to build a support system for your body.
Get Flexible
It is not a stretch to say that you can bend down and reach your toes without groaning in pain with proper Pilates equipment. The technic helps you stretch and bend, which activates your muscles and allows you to partake in various activities without injuring yourself or straining your muscles. Hitting two targets with one stone, it gives you the flexibility you wish your schedule had.
No More Back Pain
You could experience back pains due to various reasons, such as muscle strain, injuries, and old age. As such, Pilates reduces your lower back pain by removing the knots from your muscles. However, in case of injuries, it is best to consult a physical therapist before planning a routine yourself, as the intensity of the exercises should be determined considering the severity of your injury.
No More Slouching
Long working hours, not sleeping in the correct position, slouching, or sitting in front of your laptop for hours can ruin your posture. But Pilates exercises activate your weak muscles, ensure your spine is in its natural shape, and fix your posture.
A Stress-Free Life
Exercise makes you sweat but also makes you happy and healthy. Meanwhile, the technic boosts your mental health and regulates your blood circulation. These workouts relax you, keep you stress-free, and energize you. Not only do these exercises remove tensions from your muscles, but they also remove tensions from your mind. Additionally, this technic helps you sleep better. Nevertheless, a good workout ensures you get your eight hours of interrupted sleep without tossing and turning all night!
Enhances Your Concentration Levels
Since the exercise approach relaxes your mind, you can carry out your activities, such as working and studying, without losing focus. Moreover, it relies on breathing and stretching techniques to build your core muscles, meaning you have to strike a pose, hold it, and ensure you keep your balance and pose while moving your arms and legs, which helps you concentrate better.
The technic is all about a healthy body and mind. So, if you have the best Pilates equipment, working out will become ten times less challenging, and you won’t have to bend over backward to find alternate methods for a healthier lifestyle.