When we think about health, often the first thing that comes to mind is exercise – high-intensity workouts and functional training – cross fit, spending hours in the gym lifting weights, or playing team sports. Pilates is often overlooked because it is perceived as being low intensity, relaxing and only about stretching – however that couldn’t be further from the truth! In fact, Pilates is the one exercise you should be prioritising – because investing in Pilates is investing in your bodies and your overall health. When performed in a contemporary studio with professional instructors who give one-on-one attention, Pilates can help to improve fitness, rehabilitate, and prevent injury.

Train

As we explored in our last journal, the benefit of studio Pilates is in the way it fuses classical Pilates exercises with the latest from biomechanics, sports science and physiotherapy. This combined with the fact that the exercises are designed to strengthen and lengthen specific muscle groups, makes Pilates a great form of exercise for people of any level of fitness.

If you’re an avid runner, cyclist, footballer – or participate in any sort of demanding activity – introducing regular Pilates classes into your exercise regime will strengthen your core, improve fitness, form, strength, and muscle alignment. This means you can perform better in your favourite sports or activities for longer and without injury. Pilates can help cyclists & runners reduce pain and help you to improve your personal bests. See our previous article on the countless benefits of Pilates for men and why men should do pilates.

Fix

Pilates will help train the body to be stronger, more flexible and operate at peak fitness. But, it will also help to fix the body from muscle soreness and injuries. Studio Pilates is adaptive, and uses techniques of rehabilitation to take into account any physical concerns in each class.

Studio Pilates will often collaborate with other allied health professionals, such as GPs and physios, so that a range of injuries can be addressed. Plus, because classes are small and individually focused, you get the attention you need to meet your specific goals.

Prevent

Not only will Pilates work to fix existing physical issues, it will also help to prevent future ones. When practiced regularly, Pilates will improve your core strength, flexibility and discipline of movement, preventing injuries from lack of proper form during other exercises.

In each class, you’re deliberately worked through all planes of movement to ensure both functional fitness, and correct biomechanics, prepping your body against future injury. Pilates can also help to reverse the negative affects of office and sedentary work, as well as ensure overall good bodily health.