Pilates is a form of full-body exercise that has swept the nation. If you’re not in on the craze, but are looking for a form of exercise to get involved with, knowing the health benefits of Pilates might be all you need to get you on your exercising mat. To help you learn, we’ve created a comprehensive guide to some of the best physical and mental health benefits gained from doing Pilates.
Reducing Back Pain
Pilates is a system of exercise that revolves around a series of stretches and bends. For this reason, there is research that suggests that it can be a good cure for back pain – and more general joint pain, too. For your Pilates regime to be as effective as possible, you’ll need a personalised exercise program tailored to your specific problems by a personal trainer.
You’ll also benefit from a foam roller, which you can place under your back, helping to straighten and strengthen it. These rollers are inexpensive (as if the health benefits aren’t enough to entice you already) and you can buy one online from somewhere like Fitness Mad.
Enhancing Posture
Good posture may not necessarily bring with it any health benefits, but bad posture can lead to problems in the back, neck, chest and shoulders. For this reason, maintaining a good posture is a great way of keeping your body in good shape.
The good news is that the emphasis Pilates places on core body strength can help you towards achieving this goal, and along with good daily posture practice, it should enable you to have a good posture. As you get towards old age, you might find that you’re losing height. If you are, it could be a sign of poor posture, but don’t worry – Pilates is suitable for people of all ages and physical abilities.
Improved Mental Health
Like all forms of exercise, Pilates offers you the chance to improve your mental health. Burning calories is great for your self-esteem, but loosening your joints, improving your posture and lessening back pain are all good ways of lowering your pain and stress levels, so Pilates can really help to make your day to day life less of a struggle.
If you’ve been looking for reasons to get involved with the health craze that has swept the nation, you now have them. So get yourself to a class and get involved, you’re practically guaranteed to benefit both mentally and physically.