Why is Pilates recommended for everyone? – Part 1

Why does it seem like literally everyone has been doing Pilates in the last few years? From Hollywood stars to elite athletes, all the way to the elderly neighbor? Because everyone really is doing Pilates! And for those who aren't, the time has come to start. Why? Because Pilates is recommended for everyone: for young and old, athletes, amateurs, expectant mothers, grandparents, boys, girls – in short, for everyone. You don't have to believe us, let the beneficial effects of Pilates speak for themselves!

• Pilates works the entire body.

Unlike many other forms of exercise, Pilates sculpts the body evenly. You won't find one part of your body overdeveloped while another is underdeveloped. If you're a visual person, just think of arm wrestlers and their incredibly muscular right arms!

Although Pilates also has its own focus (which is none other than the core), your other body parts will not be neglected either.

The emphasis on the core, breathing, and the mind makes Pilates such a complex form of movement that you'll hardly find anything similar. This is why it's popular among professional athletes, and why doctors readily recommend it to those who need rehabilitation.

• Pilates is easily modifiable based on abilities and needs.

We cannot expect an athlete and a retired accountant to perform the same exercises. After all, the athlete has dedicated almost their entire life to sports, so their body functions like a well-oiled machine. In contrast, our retired accountant performed their work sitting, and the accumulated years further limit their range of motion. However, neither of them has to give up Pilates.

There are thousands of Pilates exercises, and all of them can be modified. This way, you certainly won't push yourself into injury, but you also don't have to worry about the exercises being too easy.

• Pilates increases strength, not mass.

There are professional bodybuilders whose goal is to have as much muscle mass as possible, and then there's everyone else. You're probably not a bodybuilder (since you're reading about Pilates), and your goal isn't to look like a cumulus cloud.

If you prefer lean, long muscles, then Pilates is the right form of exercise for you! You can build such musculature with the right combination of stretching and strengthening, and Pilates is full of various stretching exercises. Your muscles will become stronger, but their volume will not increase.

• Pilates increases flexibility.

Pilates significantly improves the flexibility of muscles and joints. Your range of motion will increase, and the risk of injuries will decrease, because a muscle that stretches doesn't tear.

You won't achieve such mind-blowing results as with yoga. Through Pilates, you can rather sculpt a body that is perfectly functional and allows you to enjoy life to the fullest. After all, let's be realistic, when does life expect us to fold ourselves into a pretzel?

• Pilates strengthens the core.

The deep-seated muscles of the back, abdomen, and pelvic floor form the core. It is extremely important for these muscles to be strong and healthy, as they are responsible for a straight back, correct posture, and effortless movements. If our core is strong, our entire body is supported. This way, we don't put pressure on the neck and shoulders. The core muscles are capable of supporting the body on their own, so other muscles and joints don't have to "help out."

An added benefit is that a strong core comes with a firm abdomen. And who wouldn't be happy with a flat, muscular stomach?

If we haven't convinced you yet, join us next time when we'll elaborate on further benefits of Pilates.