5 Key Health Benefits of Doing Pilates

With summer well underway many will have already made progress into their fitness plans. Whilst standard cardio and strength training should remain the bedrock of your regime, the lesser known practice of Pilates could offer some interesting alternative benefits for your overall fitness.

Improved Flexibility

We all know the importance of developing good strength and cardiovascular fitness for our overall health but flexibility is an aspect of fitness often overlooked. Pilate’s utilisation of abdominal control and unusual posture movement is fantastic for developing functional fitness in a similar way to Yoga.

Improved Mental Resistance

One benefit of all exercise that is often overlooked are the mental benefits of practice. Regular Pilates will lead to a regular release of endorphins that are essential for maintaining a balanced mood. The fact that Pilates involves resistance training and some movements means you will be constantly pushing your body into unusual positions.

Increased Lung Capacity and Breathe Control

Pilates does not only take into account resistance and flexibility training. The breathing exercises that form part of a class are fantastic for conditioning your cardiovascular health through increased lung capacity.

Improved Posture

Another fantastic benefit of Pilates is the positive impact it can have on your spine and posture. Pilates encourages you to stretch your body and adapt it to new positions. This is why Pilates is practiced by many who are trying to improve their posture.  Additionally, if you suffer from upper back problems the movements and exercise in Pilates could be a great way to alleviate and prevent back pain.

Pilates is a Low Impact Form of Exercise

In contrast to some of the other high impact fitness options out there, Pilates utilises slow controlled movements with an emphasis on muscle contraction. If you are an individual who suffers from knee or joint pain Pilates could be the perfect option for you.

Pilates Has a Wide Range of Health Benefits

As shown practicing Pilates has a number of recorded benefits that makes it a great exercise to practice for a wide range of people. Why not find a local class near you to try it out for yourself!