Five Benefits That You Can Only Get From Pilates

Pilates is the exercise of choice for dancers, gymnasts, and a host of famous Hollywood celebrities, and now it finds itself firmly entrenched in the mainstream. So why is pilates so hot? Pilates incredible popularity can be traced to the fact that it provides its faithful practitioners with benefits that you simply can't get through traditional aerobics/strength training format. Here are five benefits that you can only get through pilates.

1. A long, lean look without bulky muscles, but with all the strength. Would you like to build strength and endurance without getting the muscle man look? If so, pilates may be just what you have been searching for. There's a reason that pilates is the exercise of choice for gymnasts and professional dancers. Most conventional workouts tend to create bulky muscle. Why is this? In most workouts, the emphasis is placed on repetition and building strong muscles. This causes already-strong (think: big) muscles to get even strong, and thus bigger. Pilates does not rely on frequent repetition, and thus no overgrown muscles. Pilates focuses on the whole body, not just on sections of muscles.

2. A mind-body workout that strengthens your whole body. Like yoga, tai chi, and Asian martial arts, pilates is not just a workout for your body. Joseph H. Pilates, the founder of pilates, studied yoga, martial arts, and other ancient mind-body activities and incorporated a strong philosophical foundation into the practice of pilates. Pilates not only helps tone your body, but your mind and spirit as well. The smooth, precise and flowing movements of pilates are designed to make you more mindful of your body. Breath movement is also emphasized to put you in touch with how breath moves through your body. Pilates has been demonstrated to reduce stress, anxiety, and helps lift depression. The mind-body connection is fundamental to the study and practice of pilates.

3. Pilates strengthens your core like no other exercise. A strong center, or core, is one of the hallmarks of pilates. The area around the torso is sometimes referred to as the core, because this is where your abdominal muscles connect with the rest of your body. Strengthening this area helps you develop a strong back and a healthy spine.

4. Pilates strengthens your body and helps prevent future injuries. Pilates helps to condition the whole body, not just certain muscles. This helps balance the muscle and strength of the body. Since no set of muscles is ever over or under trained, there is less risk for injury. The body becomes more fluid and supple, protecting against injury.

5. Pilates teaches you how to become efficient with your body. Very few exercises can help your body become more efficient in its movement. Why is efficiency so important? Being efficient means that your body moves in a way that is smoother, safer, and less prone to injury. By practicing pilates on a regular basis, you can train your body more to move in a much safer and more efficient manner.