About a decade ago, Yoga was the buzz word. Just a few years ago, it was Pilates. Today, both types of exercise are still going strong. Considering that I am high-energy and prefer the hard-core “sweat like crazy” cardiovascular workouts of running, cycling, swimming, aerobics and similar exercises, I could never understood what possible benefit could come from Yoga or Pilates. Until now.
While you probably won’t break a sweat in Yoga or Pilates, you will get a core body workout that your muscles will remember for days. These small and very controlled movements provide an excellent workout for the body’s core from the abdominals to the back and every muscle in between…much better than traditional sit ups could ever offer.
Researchers of the Pilates phenomenon found that such a workout strengthens the body’s core muscles while simultaneously exercising the mind, which affects your ability to live a long and healthier life. The benefits of Pilates and Yoga are plentiful and include enhancing body awareness, strengthening back and stomach muscles, improving body control, providing greater flexibility, improving posture, increasing energy, and promoting weight loss.
With so many health benefits, why wouldn’t you join a Pilates class? So I did. While I have only attended two classes since this writing, I have noticed that these small movements actually reach muscles that traditional cardiovascular workouts never touch.
According to Pilates research, there are two key benefits to participating in the Pilates movement. The biggest benefit involves educating your mind on what your body can do. Your core muscles help you perform everyday tasks such as standing, sitting, brushing your teeth, or just about any movement. As you start working on your core, you become aware of your body’s posture and movements, keeping your mind fully engaged with your body’s functions from the moment you wake to when you retire at night. Gaining full awareness of your body’s overall changes and potential to change engages both mind and body together, which need to work in concert for overall well-being and improved quality of life.
The second key benefit is that Pilates promotes healthier breathing. Whether we realize it or not, breathing is an important part of our health. Research has discovered that Pilates promotes conscious breathing for improved circulation, which in turn stimulates the spine and muscles, and floods the body with positive feelings one gets during high-energy exercise. In essence, these small movements of a “workout” make you feel energized and happy all day long.
Pilates was created by German-born Joseph Pilates more than a century ago. As a child, he suffered with asthma and rickets and grew obsessed with having the perfect body. The result of his research came into a form of exercise he coined “contrology.” Early in his use of contrology, Pilates taught wounded English soldiers during World War I to increase their range of motion. He later taught the technique to boxers and ballet dancers in the United States in the mid-1920s. Eventually, the rest of the world caught on to the Pilates benefits.
Pilates and Yoga are both available at various fitness centers in Meadville including the Meadville Family YMCA as well as The Body Firm. If you want to improve your physical and mental health, Pilates or Yoga may be just the ticket!
References
Sarnataro, B. R. (2012). The benefits of Pilates. Just what can Pilates exercises do for you? Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/the-benefits-of-pilates.
Ogle, M. (2011). The many benefits of Pilates exercise. Retrieved from http://pilates.about.com/od/whatispilates/tp/Pilates-Benefits.htm.
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