Lately, one form of exercise has been gaining more and more popularity — Pilates.
If you’re looking for a new challenge, this might just be the one for you.
There’s plenty of research out there confirming that Pilates helps with stress relief.
So let’s break it down a bit.
What is Pilates, exactly?
In case you didn’t know, Pilates was developed in the 20th century by Joseph Pilates during World War I, while he was working with injured soldiers. He is said to have drawn some of his inspiration from observing how animals, especially cats – naturally stretch and maintain their flexibility.The core principle of Pilates is strengthening the core – including the abdominal muscles and the lower back. It might seem challenging at first, but with consistency and focus, every movement becomes easier.
Although it’s considered a form of strength training, Pilates primarily focuses on improving overall muscle tone. So instead of looking bulky, you'll build a lean, strong physique.
Benefits of Pilates?
Ever get lower back pain from sitting too long or poor posture? Besides being very helpful for relieving lower back pain and building better flexibility, Pilates brings many other benefits, such as easing strain and stress in everyday life situations. Through proper and controlled execution of Pilates, you can discover all your tension points in the body, how to release them, and better understand the signals your body is sending you.
Effect on stress
You don’t have to crush yourself in an intense workout to feel mental health benefits. And Pilates proves that. Although it’s not considered intense exercise, it raises your heart rate — which automatically improves your mood.
Through controlled movements and breathing, Pilates brings you back to the present moment and helps you cope better with daily stress. But it’s important to emphasize: even though Pilates is a powerful tool for mental stability, it cannot replace professional psychological help. So use it as support — not as a replacement for all the problems you may be facing.
How to Start
Thinking about how to start practicing Pilates? Here are a few things to know beforehand.
- Choose a qualified instructor
Finding a good instructor is half the work. Find someone experienced who can adapt the exercises to you and your level to ensure proper performance and avoid unwanted injuries.
- Talk to your doctor
Even though Pilates is gentle, it's always smart to get a thumbs up from your doctor—especially if you’ve had injuries or medical issues.
- Start slow
Starting a new type of exercise can activate muscles you rarely use, and your body might not yet have the endurance. So begin at a light pace— muscle soreness is definitely expected.
- Pilates4You or mat?
Working out solo on a mat or with an instructor in a group class? On the mat, you rely more on your own strength and stability, while group classes offer more support and a bit more challenge. If you can, try both – it's the best of both worlds!
Conclusion
Pilates is for EVERYONE. You don’t need to be super fit or have expensive equipment. Our group classes are affordable and tailored to different experience levels, led by professional trainers. Move at your own pace – your body, your rhythm. Maybe now is the perfect time to try something new.
