It’s no secret that going to the gym regularly can help you lose weight. But what if going to the gym wasn’t your thing, and you felt that taking a class would be more beneficial?
Pilates is a method of exercise that originated in the late 1800’s in Germany. It is a form of yoga that focuses on functional movement and building strength through controlled movements. It was originally developed for people with disabilities, but has since grown in popularity and is now used by people who want to lose weight as well!
In this blog post, we will discuss how Pilates helps with weight loss and how you can incorporate it into your fitness routine whether you are already a fan of yoga or not.
A Less Impactful Workout
While going to the gym and doing weight training can be an effective way to lose weight, it has a lot of associated benefits that Pilates doesn’t. For starters, when you work out, you are placing a certain amount of stress on your muscles. But in Pilates, your muscles are doing the working because the movements are functional and require you to keep your body in a balanced position while staying mindful of your breathing. As a result, your muscles will be much more relaxed and, therefore, less likely to hurt after the workout!
Pilates also forces you to work at your own pace and, therefore, prevent burnout. Since you are not working to a strict timetable, you will not get bored during your workout and, therefore, remain motivated to keep going.
Last but not least, yoga and Pilates are both considered meditative practices and can, therefore, help you relax and de-stress after working out. This, in turn, can help improve your overall mental health and well-being.
Faster Results
Pilates has actually been shown in scientific studies to work faster than other forms of workout. This is likely due to its focus on functional movement rather than just on muscle building. When you perform a Pilates routine, you develop and strengthen the body’s natural flexing muscles, which are the muscles that enable you to breathe. As a result, you will quickly notice that you are able to breathe easier and faster while working out than you could before starting the routine.
Muscle building through weight training is a great way to get the benefits of a workout, but it is also a very rough way to go about it. While performing weight training, your body is in constant danger of getting injured because the focus is solely on the size and shape of your muscles. This can lead to overuse injuries and, sometimes, even tear joints apart.
In contrast, Pilates focuses on using the body in its natural position and avoiding any extremes in movement, which makes it safer and more effective for long-term use. In addition, since yoga and pilates both center around breathing, they are a great option to work out with when you are trying to quit smoking or use tobacco products, which can hinder your breathing.
If you want to speed up your results and want to avoid the pitfalls that come with doing gym-style workouts, consider giving pilates a try.
Ultimately, it’s all about finding the right workout for you. If you want to lose weight and are interested in a type of workout that doesn’t involve cardio, consider giving Pilates a try!