Pilates is a mode of exercise largely inspired by yoga. It is composed of about 500+ exercises that are intended to stretch and strengthen musculature throughout a balanced body.

While Pilates offers a host of health benefits, it’s not only limited to the physical ones. Much like yoga, it also provides mental and meditative benefits!

Pilates requires discipline, concentration, focus, and a certain level of range of motion. However, there are ways to scale it for all body types and experience levels so that everyone can take advantage of what Pilates has to offer.

Below are 5 of the most common benefits:

1. Improved flexibility;
2. Increase in overall strength;
3. Greater balance & coordination;
4. Exceptional posture and spinal stabilization;
5. Enhanced relaxation & stress relief;

Read on for further details!

Improved flexibility

Much like yoga, Pilates ensures a safe but effective strategy to gradually work towards a greater range of motion through multi-joint movement. Through stretching and flowing through movement, Pilates provides the inevitable side-effect of greater flexibility.

Increase in overall strength

While the aim of Pilates isn’t to inherently build muscle, those that participate will likely earn some lean muscle along the way. Pilates is largely a balancing act. Over time, through functional movements and muscle contractions, you will build strength and tone muscles, not to mention strengthening your core! This is another fantastic side-effect of Pilates.

Greater balance & coordination

The main function of Pilates is similar to that of yoga - balance and coordination. Without improving these skills, the exercises would never be able to be executed properly. Through consistency and effort, Pilates will inevitably improve your balance and coordination! This is a fantastic benefit for functioning in every-day life and increasing your longevity as well.

Posture and spinal stabilization

Pilates naturally trains the body to act harmoniously through proper form and alignment. If you’ve ever met an avid Pilates participant, they likely have impeccable posture. Whether you’re a beginner or expert, going through the progressions of Pilates, from fundamentals to complex movements, will naturally create good posture.

Enhanced relaxation and stress relief

Pilates is all about becoming centered, connecting the body with the mind through concentration and focus. Some consider this act to be quite a spiritual one. Nonetheless, much like yoga and meditation, Pilates often provides participants with a sense of oneness with the present, allowing them to focus only on the task at hand. This typically results in true relaxation, contentment with the moment, and, ultimately, stress relief.

There are many methods for learning Pilates, and there’s room for everyone! It’s adaptable, scalable, and most importantly, enjoyable for all fitness levels.