Listen up, gents! You will probably agree that Pilates is typically viewed as a form of exercise specifically geared toward women. ‘Real men’ play rugby and wrestle, right?! It may surprise you to find out that many elite athletes employ Pilates as a cross-training method to boost their overall performance. Maybe you’re thinking, “I’m not a professional baller, so Pilates isn’t for me.” If Lebron James, David Beckham, and Tiger Woods can reap the benefits of Pilates, so can you! If that’s not enough to get you on the mat, here’s some more food for thought before you turn your back on those Cat and Cow Pilates poses!
1. Increases Overall Muscle Strength
Looking to pump those abs, and improve your core strength? Pilates may be exactly what you’re searching for! One of the most well-recognised advantages of Pilates is its ability to target a variety of muscles and deliver a real full-body workout.
If you’re already active, there’s a chance that you repetitively work the same muscles 24/7 (this is good!) But, incorporating Pilates into your routine will target those stabilisers and otherwise neglected muscles that you may not realise are lacking attention. In turn, your larger muscles will be more supported, taking your strength to the next level.
2. Reduces Stress And Improves Mental Clarity
Did you know that studies show stress is more likely to cause depression in men than women? Slowing down in today's fast-paced society is no easy task. Distractions, urgent demands, and information bombard us on a daily basis. If you are feeling overwhelmed, we highly recommend Pilates as an outlet to decompress! This form of exercise changes the level of chemicals in the brain (cortisol, serotonin, and endorphins), providing a diversion from overwhelming thoughts, reducing stress, and improving mental clarity.
Every Pilates exercise involves a particular breathing pattern – breath is one of the most powerful tools to calm the mind. When you concentrate on your breathing, your brain is unable to compile and stress over that "to do" list. Instead, Pilates directs your focus inward, allowing you to discover a present state and feel the muscles work as you reconnect with your body.
3. Strengthens Joints and Prevents Injuries
Sometimes sticking to the same training routine can actually cause more harm than good. There’s no doubt that repeatedly working the same muscles is great for #gains, but in the long run, this may cause a muscular imbalance, resulting in injury. It’s easy to focus on building bigger muscles rather than focusing on alignment and balance.
Instead of overtraining certain regions such as the core, quads, biceps, and triceps, it’s important to train the intrinsic muscles too. This form of exercise is excellent for training the abdominals, pelvic floor, and back muscles.
Pilates can remedy faulty patterns by balancing the body’s flexibility and strength. Injuries tend to occur less frequently when muscles are functioning efficiently and the body is symmetrically aligned. So that old quote, “don’t fix it if it’s not broken,” isn’t always correct after all! If you’re stuck on the same workout routine, Pilates is the change you never knew you needed.
4. Aids in recovery to complement your existing routine
Although a day on the couch after a punishing workout may feel like an appropriate rest day, your body in fact bounces back better if you keep it moving. Level up your training by incorporating active rest days. Completing some low-intensity active recovery increases the blood flow to your muscles and removes toxins from your body, built up from high-intensity movement.
Pilates builds endurance by focusing on using your own body weight, resulting in less micro-damage to muscles with each session. This form of exercise is an ideal active rehabilitation technique in between more difficult training days.
Want to get started on your Pilates journey? Come and try your first week at one of our Brisbane Pilates studios for just $15. We are proudly Brisbane’s most affordable Pilates and group fitness studio. Learn more about the classes we offer here.
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Check out our How Long Before You See Results From Pilates? blog to find out more about consistency.
