The Benefits of Pilates

After 25 years exploring exercise I’ve setteled on Pilates and here are the reasons why:

With Pilates there are no downsides, the repetoire offers very little risk of injury and/or risk of developing an associated ailment. To this day I enjoy mountain biking, but everytime I hit the trails I risk falling or hitting a tree! Additionaly I have to stretch immediately after to avoid getting low back pain. With Pilates you don’t need to take this into consdideration it is entirely restorative. I always tell people “loving Pilates is like loving broccoli!”

The repetoire is all encompassing. Fitness is generally broken down into muscle strength, muscle endurance, cardiovascular health and flexibility. Pilates addresses all of these components. When you start to familiarize with the exercises and the machines you observe that some exercises leave you out of breath while others leave your muscles burning while others provide a deep stretch.. Some of the more advaced exercises evoke all of these psysiological responses! When asked if I could choose just one piece of fitness equipment, I answer without hesitation “the reformer”

Possibly my favorite aspect of the Pilates method is the introspective nature of executing precise movement. Make no bones about it, Pilates takes focus. This can be daunting in the beginning of your journey, but very quickly it has the oposite affect. You fall so deep in to expressing the exercises gracefully that all of lifes other distractions fade away. I am always left feeling spent physically but energised mentally and emotionally.

I believe Pilates is the best. If you havent tried it give it a try, you might end up a believer with me.