7 Reasons Why Pilates is Essential for Good Health

Pilates is one of the most popular forms of training with millions of people around the word practising it. It was created by Joseph Pilates in the 1920’s and is excellent as a form of rehabilitation. In fact, Joe created Pilates for this exact reason; to help bedridden people get stronger and healthier.

He believed that exercise was the best way to ward off illness and to a certain extent he did prove his point. Those people who practised Pilates during his time did not fall ill when everyone else around them seemed to be struck by illness.

Pilates core exercises

Pilates core exercises

There are 7 benefits that anybody will get from practising Pilates often.

1. Pilates aligns and balances the body. What that means is that when you do the Pilates moves, your ligaments, muscles and joints will be aligned correctly. If they are not aligned properly, the result is aches, pain and impaired movements.

[thrive_link dark=’orange’ link=’http://naturalhealthkingdom.com/go/pilates-for-beginners/’ target=’_blank’ size=’medium’ align=’full’]Pilates For Beginners and Users at all Levels[/thrive_link]

Many people have noticed that their posture has gotten better after Pilates. Their belly no longer hangs out since the abdominal muscles are strong enough to hold everything in. Their back hurts less. The tension they used to feel in their neck and shoulders is gone. All these achieved just by doing regular Pilates sessions.

2. The second benefit is flexibility. As we age, due to a more sedentary lifestyle, we become less flexible. The body is unable to function at its full range of motion because we are not supple and flexible.

Try to move the couch and you may throw out your back. Try to walk down the stair and your knees mysteriously ache. Sit at the computer too long and you feel like someone is sitting on your shoulders. All these are symptoms of lack of flexibility.

Pilates will loosen your tight muscles, make your joints have a greater range of motion and balance your body’s strength and flexibility. Over time, as you get more flexible, your muscles will be tension free and you will feel lighter and more energetic due to the improved blood circulation.

3. Pilates will make you stronger. As you age, your muscles will suffer atrophy if you do not use them enough. Pilates will use your bodyweight as resistance. As long as you give it your all, you will get stronger and notice your muscles getting toned and sculpted with time.

Your metabolism will get a boost and your cholesterol levels may go down too.

4. Stamina and endurance will see improvement too. Even though Pilates is not exactly cardiovascular by nature, it will require mental strength to go from pose to pose fluidly and without breaks. When you first start doing Pilates, you may find it excruciatingly difficult. As time progresses, you will find yourself improving.

What has happened here is that your endurance has improved without you even realizing it.

5. Pilates also sculpts your body. Your body’s shape and tone will definitely improve as you do more and more Pilates. If your diet is clean, you will have a solid, aesthetically pleasing body in a few months.

6. Pilates is a great stress reliever. We live in times that are extremely stressful. Everything is fast paced and fighting for your attention. Pilates gives you a break from the daily grind. For a short while, your mind is only focused on what you are doing. This is fantastic for your mind and soul.

7. Lastly, it is an art you will do well into your senior years. Unlike sports such as kick-boxing, skipping, etc. which may be too difficult as you age because they are high impact and gruelling, Pilates is low-impact and you will only get better with age.

[thrive_link dark=’dark’ link=’http://naturalhealthkingdom.com/go/pilates-for-beginners/’ target=’_blank’ size=’medium’ align=’full’]Pilates For Beginners and Users at all Levels[/thrive_link]

These 7 reasons should more than convince you to give Pilates a try. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. It doesn’t get better than this.

I hope you enjoyed this article – Pilates Reformer Exercises – and you will share your own experiences below in the comment box and please be kind enough to click on the share button, many thanks, Natural Health Kingdom.