Top benefits of pilates

Published: April 9, 2019

A few years back, pilates gained incredible popularity as a form of exercise. And even though it is still quite popular, the fad seems to have waned down in recent years. However, that doesn’t mean that pilates is not beneficial. In fact, Pilates has so many advantages that it is difficult to name them all. Not only is it great for your general appearance, but it is also great for your health. That is why more and more people have once again started booking pilates classes in Dubai. They have realized that there is much more than meets the eye. Here are some of the top benefits of pilates that you might not have considered.

One of the best benefits of pilates – it relieves stress

Many have not considered that truly, one of the top benefits of pilates is the fact that it reduces stress. Now, it is a bit different from yoga, but not by much. When doing Pilates, you also have to clear your mind. You need a lot of focus and concentration to control your body. This, in turn, moves all other thoughts out of your head. Also, the workouts itself can rebalance your stress hormone levels. That is why you should find pilates classes in Dubai, to ensure a good, stress-free end to your day. Just imagine all of the stress from your job going away while you do Pilates.

It improves brainpower

Yes, it does sound a far-fetched, but it’s true. Due to the unique approach to movement, pilates can actually help us improve memory and cognitive performance. Some studies even showed that brain function after pilates is much better than after other typical exercises. Add that to the fact that it actually reduces stress, you can bet your mind will be in a better state in general.

It increases flexibility

It is common knowledge that pilates boosts flexibility. Again, this is a trait that is quite similar to yoga. Many people actually start doing pilates because they want to increase their flexibility. While traditional workouts can build short, bulky muscles, pilates elongates them, while also adding to their strength. That means that it improves their elasticity. It also increases joint mobility, contributing to the overall flexibility of your body. If you’re more inclined to yoga, however, you can take up power yoga Dubai and get great results in no time!

Pilates also helps with weight loss

This, many will say, is one of the best benefits of Pilates. Because people mostly take up pilates to improve their flexibility, they seem to forget that it is quite challenging. With just a slight modification to a certain exercise, you can significantly increase the difficulty. And with the increase in difficulty, you will lose more weight. Also, if you’re looking to build your own workout routine, pilates can help you greatly. 

It strengthens your core

If you’re ready to do that plank for two hours, pilates is just the right thing for you! Of course, we’re exaggerating (but not too much). That’s right, one of the truly biggest benefits of pilates is that it strengthens your core. With every exercise, your abdominals contract. Also, pilates makes sure that deep abdominal muscles, as well as the superficial ones, get an intense workout. The point of pilates is to push you to your limits. When your core is stable, this will significantly reduce the strain on other parts of your body like the spine and joints.

It eases back pain and improves posture

How many of us have chronic back pain? Whether it is from an old injury, or simply from sitting all day at our jobs, truly, a vast majority of people have some form of it. But pilates can help in that regard, as well. Because it strengthens both superficial and deep abdominal muscles, one of the best benefits of pilates is that it can decrease back pain. Recent studies have shown that pilates alleviates back pain more than other forms of exercise.

How many of us have chronic back pain? Whether it is from an old injury, or simply from sitting all day at our jobs, truly, a vast majority of people have some form of it. But pilates can help in that regard, as well. Because it strengthens both superficial and deep abdominal muscles, one of the best benefits of pilates is that it can decrease back pain. Recent studies have shown that pilates alleviates back pain more than other forms of exercise.

In addition, pilates is also great because it improves your posture. In this day and age, we spend a lot of time on our computers, slouching and bending this way or that. That all causes further pressure on the spine, which can later develop into chronic back pain. By creating better muscle symmetry and improving our balance, pilates can reverse the impact of our bad habits.

It prevents injuries

Also, precisely because pilates increases strength and flexibility, it might help prevent further injuries. It also improves movement control, thus contributing to injury prevention down the line. Also, because it consists of slow and controlled movements, there is little to no negative effect on your joints. One of the best benefits of pilates is that it takes pressure off the back and knees, which is also incredibly important for people with knee injuries.

Energy increase as one of the most surprising benefits of pilates

Because we mostly feel tired after a good workout, many people don’t see how pilates can actually increase your energy levels. And this really may be one of the most surprising benefits of Pilates. But it’s true! It enhances the body’s natural energy levels. It causes the release of endorphins, the natural painkillers. There have been studies that show that endorphins are the reason why exercise makes you happy. However, with pilates, you have the added bonus of improved blood flow and optimized breathing. That means that your body is actually at its peak after a good pilates workout. It is also good if you do pilates in the morning because it will give you plenty of energy for the remainder of your day.

Some other benefits of pilates

Pilates is often used in physical therapy. That is because the exercises can be fairly gentle and don’t require too much strain. Pilates also makes you focus on breathing properly to prevent your muscles from cramping. This actually increases your lung capacity in the long run and stimulates circulation. Because it engages almost all muscles in your body, Pilates is truly one of the most comprehensive workout regimes that you can try. And with the added benefits of pilates to brain functions, we can truly say that Pilates is an all-body workout.