Pilates is a form of exercise that focuses on precise movements that help to improve your strength, balance and flexibility. It is a great way to improve and maintain your fitness levels. This article will explore pilates and whether or not it is actually possible to lose weight through doing it.
Chapter Overview
What are the benefits of Pilates?
Created by Joseph Pilates, pilates is a style of exercise that uses low impact movements to increase your muscle strength and tone without making your body seem bulky. Some of the benefits of pilates include:
- A better functioning body
- Increased strength
- Improved balance
- Better posture
- Reduced back pain
- A toned body
- Improved mindfulness and wellbeing
- Stress reduction
- Increased relaxation
- Improved range of movement
Can you lose weight from pilates?
So, the question you’re here for, can pilates actually help you to lose weight? Unfortunately the answer to that question is no. Pilates on its own is not going to allow you to lose significant weight, this is because losing weight involves a calorie deficit diet and aerobic exercise that burns fat quickly. Although it is not as effective as swimming or running, there are alot of benefits of pilates and these benefits help to improve your motivation to put into more high impact forms of exercise. Once you are into exercise you have completed the hardest part, from here you can start your weight loss journey and maintain it through pilates.
Best pilates classes
Although it is easy enough to stick a pilates video on from youtube, in order to receive the best possible results we recommend joining a live class, either online or in the studio. This is because you can get direct teaching from a qualified pilates instructor who can ensure you are completing the movements correctly and safely. One pilates provider we recommend is Pilates Works due to their experience working with a variety of abilities both online and in the studio. Pilates works use high end equipment too helping to maximise your results such as on the reformer and the wall towers they have available in their studio, rarely seen outside of london.
How to maximise weight loss through pilates
With any journey to weight loss, only the most committed individuals receive the desired results. Whether you are participating in a laborious bootcamp or opting for a more relaxing approach like yoga or pilates, it is important to consider that exercise alone will not allow you to lose that much weight.
The main elements to consider when wanting to lose weight are:
- Eat in a calorie deficit
- Plan your meals in advance to avoid over eating meal preparation can help with this
- Stay hydrated as often when you feel hungry it is actually your body telling you you need to drink water
Take a leap into your weight loss journey today with the help of pilates.