Pilates is a wonderful class that gives so many benefits for overall health and wellbeing. When we think about fitness and 'being fit' there are a few categories that it is important to balance. To have a fully rounded exercise regime you need to work on all areas. Pilates does give a fully rounded work out but on the days you are not in a class why not go for a walk, jog, pick up a few weights to enhance the benefits.
Here are 5 important categories of fitness:
Cardiovascular endurance.
This is all about keeping your heart and lungs in top-notch condition. Think about activities that get your heart pumping, like brisk walking, jogging, or cycling. In Pilates, while it's more low-impact, the continuous flow of movement can still provide a decent cardiovascular workout.
Muscular strength.
This is your ability to lift, push, or pull things with force. Pilates really shines here. By using your body weight or resistance equipment like resistance bands, you build strength in a gentle but effective way. Remember those core exercises? They’re fantastic for building a strong, stable base. In Pilates we take a whole body approach so there is strengthening for the whole body in the 1 hour session.
Muscular endurance
Is the ability of your muscles to perform repeated actions without getting tired too quickly. Pilates exercises are often done in sets, meaning you repeat each movement multiple times. Over time, this really hones your endurance. You might consider doing a longer walk, jog, or cycle to fully benefit your muscular endurance.
Flexibility.
This is your range of motion around joints. Pilates is renowned for improving flexibility due to its focus on stretching and lengthening muscles. It’s all about those fluid transitions and mindful movements that encourage a supple, flexible body. In Pilates we work on static/still stretches and dynamic/moving stretched for the best results. In 121 sessions we also do resisted stretches to put the muscle under tension during stretching, these are all proven ways to improve flexibility. As we get older maintaining joint flexibility is vital to keeping a functional body.
Mind-muscle connection.
Pilates places a strong emphasis on the mind-body link. By concentrating on your form and the movements, you become more aware of how your body operates, leading to better control and efficiency in your workouts. You can strengthen your awareness and correct your posture as well as noticing the areas of your body that might need more regular exercising.
Exercise is fundamental to health and by working on these 5 areas within our Pilates classes you are helping your body to repair, to function and to work optimally.
Get in touch to book a group class, they run online and in Warwick. If you feel you would benefit from more focussed attention, if you have an issue that you would like guidance on recovery, or if you want more accountability to exercise book a 121 today
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