There are so many reasons that you should start doing Pilates this summer. Pilates has so many benefits both physically and mentally plus, it’s a lot of fun. However, if you’ve never so much as attempted a pilates class before don’t stress, it’s pretty easy to get the hang of. Want to know more? Well, here’s everything you should know about pilates this summer.
First things first, you might be wondering what pilates actually is. Well, Pilates is a mat exercise that focuses on strengthening muscles, improving flexibility and posture. It comprises elements of other exercises such as yoga, ballet and callisthenics and there are plenty of health benefits that come from doing it.
One of the reasons that Pilates is so popular amongst women is that it’s so good for toning your abs. Unlike other exercises, most pilates workouts really work on targeting your core which is why it’s a great option if you’re wanting to tone up quickly over the summer months.
When it comes to pilates classes, there are two main types of classes to choose from. These are mat classes and reformer classes. The main differences between the two are that mat pilates uses, you guessed it, a thick mat whereas reformer classes use a reformer machine.
This is essentially a sliding platform that helps provide resistance. Both classes are equally good but supposedly mat classes help you to learn to control your muscles better whereas reformer classes are more effective in a shorter amount of time.
There are some similarities between Pilates and yoga. However, the key difference between the two is that pilates is primarily aimed at strengthening your muscles compared to yoga, which has a stronger focus on the flexibility and spirituality aspects.
While pilates classes are a great way to get started, once you know the basic moves, you can practice pilates pretty much anywhere. Because Pilates works by using your own body weight, you don’t really need any equipment to do it (apart from maybe a mat). Therefore pilates is a great workout for the summer when holidays and summer jobs mean that it’s hard to stick to your usual exercise regime.
Sometimes it can feel like you’ve got a million things on your mind. Well, one of the great things about pilates is that it forces you to focus on nothing else but the exercises that you are doing, which is why the exercise is so good for your mental health.
You might not think of pilates when it comes to losing weight however a good pilates class can cause you to work up quite a sweat. What’s more, pilates strong emphasis on building muscle, means that you’ll burn fat quicker too.
Although pilates primarily focuses on building strength in your core, it is also good at improving your fitness as a whole. This is because all of the benefits of pilates such as improved strength and better flexibility meant that you’re able to perform better when doing other exercises. That being said, it’s important to include pilates as part of a well-rounded exercise regime that includes some form of cardio, in order to get the best results.
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