Pilates
“Pilates is complete coordination of body, mind and spirit.”
Joseph Pilates
The Benefits of Pilates
In practising Pilates you are making a decision to care for your well-being, body and mind. It can help you improve posture, flexibility, strength, balance and body awareness, which will support you in everything you do.
Pilates is suitable for all ages and all levels of fitness, whether you are looking for general body maintenance, a challenge, rehabilitation, ante/post-natal exercise, improving bone health or specific performance training for sport.
With regular practice, Pilates can help you:
- Improve muscle tone and strength, while evenly conditioning the body.
- Develop a well-defined shape and good alignment – the key to good stability.
- Target the deep ‘core’ muscles – vital for good posture, poise and balance.
- Improve bone density and joint mobility.
- Move with control, not struggle.
- Develop good coordination and ease of movement.
- Discover a heightened self-awareness.
- Relieve unwanted stress and tension.
- Breathe more efficiently helping you feel more energised.
- Improve your stamina.
Bone Health
Pilates exercises can help maintain bone strength, improve muscle strength and balance. It is recommended as a safe and effective exercise method for those suffering from osteoporosis and osteopenia. Many Pilates exercises can help to:
- Condition the entire body and help build bone and muscle strength;
- Increase strength and muscle mass, allowing the body to better support bones made brittle by osteoporosis;
- Increase flexibility and improved posture toaid balance and thus help prevent falls that might result in a fracture.