Although Pilates is not an effective way to burn major calories and lose weight, you will reap benefits from participating in regular sessions of the exercise discipline. The poses associated with Pilates were developed by Joseph Pilates as a way to help immobilized patients. You can do a Pilates workout with or without equipment.
Benefits
According to the Teens Health website from the Nemours Foundation, benefits of Pilates include increased muscle strength and endurance, better flexibility and improvements in coordination. During a series of mat exercises, you can build a stronger core. When you have a strong core, you may decrease your chance of injury and find you practice better posture.
Expert Insight
A 2005 study presented at the American College of Sports Medicine Health & Fitness Summit & Exposition found basic Pilates workouts are low to moderate in intensity. The exercise benefits are comparable to active stretching sessions. When you advance to an intermediate level, your workout is similar to walking at a brisk pace of about 4 to 4 1/2 mph. An intermediate-level Pilates session burned approximately 180 calories in 30 minutes.
Core Training
All Pilates abdominal exercises promoted more activity in the obliques and rectus abdominus muscles than the basic crunch, according to the 2005 study. Ab exercises performed included the teaser, rollup and criss-cross. The use of a Pilates Reformer, a pulley device, during exercise helps improve your flexibility as well as strength and endurance in the legs.
Considerations
According to the Spine Health website, if you suffer from back strain or disc degeneration, Pilates can effectively reduce wear and tear on the discs and joints along with promoting neutral alignment in the spine. Back-pain patients can do most Pilates exercises, but should avoid any movements that require side bending or twisting the spine. Schedule a private session with an instructor before beginning your Pilates workout in order to avoid incorrectly doing the poses.
Member Comments