Pilates has many benefits and the exercises can be modified to suit different abilities and fitness levels, so even if you think your out of shape or recovering from an injury you can do it.
Pilates helps to improves posture strengthening the deep postural muscles of the back and abdominals, also by lengthening tight muscles and strengthening the weak muscles it helps you to sit and stand tall.
Many of us will have an excessive curve in the upper or lower back due to muscle imbalances, which can cause back ache so strengthening and stretching the muscles to gain balance can ease back ache.
Pilates also strengthens the whole body,
* Decreasing body fat and increasing lean muscle mass. Increasing lean muscle mass can help your body burn calories more efficiently.
* Toning your muscles to help you look thinner
* Increasing or maintaining balance and coordination
* Reducing risk of injury
* Preventing muscle deterioration
* Increasing athletic performance
* Increasing ability to perform everyday activities easily
Pilates will mobilise and strengthen your joints , have you heard the saying use it or lose it as we get older it is important to keep active otherwise your mobility will decrease putting you at risk of injury
Pilates will help to improve or maintain flexibility, the same goes for your flexibility once you hit the over 50's this will decrease unless you improve or maintain it.
Pilates is perfect for arthritis sufferers. Its low-impact nature enables them to maintain muscle strength and general health without straining their joints. It also helps to reduce stiffness in the muscles.
Pilates has also been found helpful by some sufferers of fibromyalgia, a syndrome characterised by severe pain in joints and throughout the body. Depending on the tolerance of sufferers, who say it hurts at first but then starts to alleviate symptoms.
In fact, Pilates was originally designed for rehabilitating patients and can be practised even if you are stiff and out-of-shape - so long as you stick within your limitations and don't do anything that causes pain.
