Pilates: 8 training tips to sculpt and improve your body thanks to this gentle method
Pilates has more than one trick up its sleeve: This gentle muscle-strengthening method helps improve silhouette, gain flexibility, improve posture, and strengthen the mind. Along with a balanced diet and cardio physical activity to burn calories, it's also an ideal weight loss and weight loss sport!
What is Pilates?
If Pilates has been very popular for a few years, it is an ancient method, having been created at the beginning of the 20th century by Joseph Pilates.
This method of training is aimed at gently strengthening the deep muscles. Grooming all the deep muscles of the body makes it possible in particular to achieve perfect body alignment.
What are the benefits of Pilates exercises?
There are many strengths and benefits that Pilates has on the body and mind.
It's training for everyone
. The first advantage of Pilates, which cannot be neglected, is that it is a physical activity for everyone. It is based on simple movements, easy to learn, accessible to everyone, and does not pose any danger to the practitioner, whatever his age or level.
Improves posture and prevents back pain
. Pilates is a highly effective physical activity for improving posture and preventing back pain. During sessions, we rebalance and strengthen deep muscles. We especially strengthen the abdominal and back muscles and mobilize the spine, making it a real ally against back pain and muscle pain.
We gain flexibility
This training method allows you to gain flexibility throughout the body, because during sessions, the joints are moved a lot and the stretching movements are mixed with muscle-strengthening exercises . Which makes it a very effective discipline to smooth out the body and become more flexible regardless of the level of flexibility initially.
We prevent small diseases in everyday life
Thanks to the sequences presented in Pilates exercises, we develop our strength and muscle tone, we have better control over the body, which allows us to better cope with the gestures of everyday life, and prevent the risks of localized pain, bad posture, etc.
We have a better respiratory capacity playing breathing
What is good plays an important role in the well-being and health of everyone. Thanks to Pilates, we will improve our breathing abilities, become more aware of the connections between physical and mental well-being...
We learn how to manage stress better
Pilates has obvious benefits for the body, but will also have a positive effect on the mind. By learning to better control your body, you get many benefits, such as managing emotions and stress. Controlling the body allows the mind to escape, and focusing on what one is doing is optimal. Furthermore, during a Pilates session, you may be tempted to yawn, as breathing and light exercises facilitate relaxation. At the end of the hour, we have that feeling of lightness that feels so satisfying!
It enhances her athletic performance
Among the great athletes, and even among novice athletes, there is also a significant improvement in performance thanks to Pilates exercises. Gaining confidence on a physical and mental level, and learning how to position yourself better, is beneficial for the results one would have in any other sport.
Pilates corrects chronic weaknesses
. This system aims to obtain a perfect alignment of the body and thus allows correcting asymmetry of the body, supporting chronic weaknesses (such as tendinitis for example). Restores the body's balance to prevent the emergence of new injuries.
What is the difference between yoga and pilates?
If Pilates and yoga are the so-called "soft" physical activities, which are sometimes confused, but they differ on several levels:
Pilates is practiced most of the time on the floor, while in yoga, if you are practicing on the floor, there are also many positions that you do while standing.
The type of breathing is different: in Pilates, we practice thoracic breathing, while in yoga, we practice diaphragmatic breathing.
Finally, in yoga, there is a dimension of meditation, a complete art of living, that is not found in Pilates.
Does Pilates make you lose weight?
In general, the practice of physical activity with the goal of losing weight should always be associated with controlling the diet, either a diet, or the creation of a balanced and varied diet.
Yes, Pilates exercises can help improve weight, and can help in losing weight, or maintaining a streak, provided that this regular practice is linked to a diet that matches the set of goals and energy expenditure.
The advantage of Pilates is that we will effectively touch all the muscles of the body: the muscles of the abdomen, legs, arms, shoulders, back, etc. We also mobilize the stabilizing muscles (hips, knees and ankles), providing an interesting balancing act.
Finally, through Pilates exercises, we strengthen the deep pelvic muscles, the muscles of the pelvic floor (perineum region), a real plus for women, of any age.
After pregnancy for example, when medical opinion is in favor, the practice of Pilates allows you to restore the muscles and restore muscle tone.
This gentle physical activity also makes it possible to have a flat stomach, because the exercises presented in Pilates activate, among other things, the transverse presentation and the sheathing action significantly during the session.
Lose Weight, Get Thinner With Pilates: Tips To Improve Your Sessions
Ideally, plan two Pilates sessions per week to get results
Combine this practice with more cardio activity (brisk walking, running, cycling, etc.), at least once or twice a week, to burn calories and strengthen your cardiovascular system.
Perfectly complement with some muscle-strengthening or bodybuilding exercises to get more results on your silhouette
Follow a well-balanced diet that matches your needs and goal
Feel free to walk as fast as you can, even to a metro or bus stop, and replace some car trips with walking or biking.
Try to change your (bad) habits little by little (remove one of the two sugars in the coffee, then the second, reduce the butter in the morning toast, etc.)
Stop relying on the weight indicated by the scale... Muscle is heavier than fat!
