You don’t imagine it. Pilates is a hot topic in the fitness industry right now. Between workouts trending on TikTok (Wall Pilates, anyone?) and aesthetic studio snaps lighting up Instagram feeds, every exercise enthusiast with a social media profile is looking forward to attending his class at their local reformer. It seems there are.
It’s not a generalization, but if PureGym’s 2024 fitness trend predictions are any indication, it probably will be. Pilates workouts ranked three times in the top 20 training trends for 2024, with wall Pilates coming in first, mat Pilates coming in 14th, and reformer coming in 19th. But if you’ve heard a lot of rave reviews and want to try it for the first time, you may be wondering what kind of workout it is. teeth Actually Pilates?
There’s no doubt that Pilates is an activity with many benefits, including improved muscle tone, flexibility, and strength.Research published in muscles, ligaments, tendons The Journal shows that Pilates may offer benefits such as improved flexibility, abdominal and lumbopelvic stability, and muscle activity, but a 2022 study found that Pilates can be used without any activity It was found that it may be beneficial for increasing muscle strength and improving balance compared to .
So, what kind of training is cardio, strength, flexibility, and Pilates? We asked Nordic Balance’s personal trainer Joanna Meyer. Want to know more about trending workouts? Expert commentary on Pilates for beginners and whether one Pilates session per week is enough to strengthen both your body and your brain. Don’t miss your opinion.
Have you ever wondered what kind of training Pilates is?
Is Pilates considered cardio or strength training?
“Pilates is a versatile workout that primarily focuses on core strength, but also targets other areas of the body,” Meyer explains. It is considered a type of strength and flexibility training, as opposed to aerobic exercise, and utilizes body weight and sometimes additional kit such as ankle weights, wrist weights, and a Pilates sculpting bar to provide resistance. to put stress on your muscles.
This will depend on the type of class you choose, but Pilates movements typically work your entire body, with special emphasis on your core. Movements include push-ups, kneeling side kicks, roll-ups, etc., but often focus on eccentric contractions, the lower part of the movement that stretches the muscles, which is an effective way to develop strength.
What are the benefits of doing Pilates?
As we’ve already mentioned, there are many benefits to practicing Pilates regularly. “It increases core strength and stability, which is important for overall movement efficiency and injury prevention,” Meyer explains. “Pilates also improves posture, muscle tone and flexibility, and is known to reduce lower back pain.”
Additionally, she says the focus on controlled, conscious movement and breathing techniques can help improve focus and mental health.Case in point: research published in Complementary therapies in medicine concluded that Pilates can improve mental health.
Is Pilates “enough” training?
When considering whether a certain type of workout is “good enough,” you first need to personally define what quality exercise looks like. If it helps you improve your health indicators, brings you closer to your goals, and you have fun, then it will certainly be recognized as a good session. Pilates, as we have established, helps improve strength and stability and is an activity that many people can enjoy participating in. But is that enough?
talk to MC UK In the past, Reformer Pilates instructor Iony Brown said yes and no. “In my opinion, doing just Pilates isn’t necessarily a bad thing; there are a lot of benefits you can get from it,” she says. “Many people notice a huge difference both physically and mentally compared to doing Pilates alone.”
That’s because Pilates “focuses on lateral breathing, so those who attend Pilates regularly should notice improvements in circulation and respiratory efficiency,” she continues. “But that alone may not provide enough stimulation for cardiovascular conditions and heart health,” she shares.
Research published in clinical medicine journal While Pilates is supported to help improve cardiovascular fitness, the NHS recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week for optimal health. Bottom line: Pilates alone may not help you achieve these goals.
Can Pilates replace weight training?
“Pilates can be an alternative to weightlifting, especially for people who want to improve their core stability and posture,” Meyer says. That said, if your goal is to increase muscle strength, lifting especially heavy weights is the best and most efficient way to achieve this. why? This is because increased muscle tension (from lifting heavy objects) causes muscle fibers to tear. The body repairs these fibers by fusing them together, resulting in an increase in muscle mass. To build muscle and strength, you need to continually challenge your muscles. A process called progressive overloading.
“Weightlifting increases overall muscle mass and bone density, so combining Pilates and weightlifting has complementary effects, which becomes important as we age,” says Meyer. .
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