Pilates was first developed as a method of rehabilitating injured soldiers, but it quickly gained favor as an effective and low-impact way of strengthening core muscle groups and improving flexibility. The great thing about it is that it can be practiced by a person of any age, making it a versatile activity for both the old and young.
The Key Features and Benefits
Pilates highlights correct breathing. Much like Yoga, it can help to not only strengthen important parts of the body, but also help the practitioner learn body control and improved motor skills. Here are some of the key ways in which Pilates can help.
It can help those who are elderly, disabled or injured to increase strength around the spine and improve strength and flexibility in the pelvic area. Over time, this leads to improved movement and less pain from degenerative diseases such as arthritis and joint inflammation. As deep core muscles are strengthened, including abdominals, pelvic floor muscles and back muscles, quality of life and general health and well-being are also improved.
By practicing a range of these exercises, it is also possible to prevent injuries. This is especially important to athletes and sportspeople, as well as the elderly and disabled. In fact, exercise classes like this are often run at health care facilities and in elderly care settings, and it is even possible to find classes for Pilates in Wantagh.
The exercises are also balanced and low impact. Many of the movements are done on the floor and in supported positions so that the risk of exercise-related injury is decreased dramatically. Pilates was first developed as a low-impact way for injured soldiers to perform physical rehabilitations, so each exercise has been tailored with an injured and mostly prone person in mind. As mentioned, this makes it an ideal exercise for those who have physical injuries or disabilities. Over time, practitioners also retrain their bodies to move in a more efficient way so that the chances of suffering injury are mitigated.
Going from Strength to Strength
Pilates is an ideal exercise because it emphasizes a mind/body balance, smooth and efficient movement, and core strength. The exercises range from basic to advanced, but are low impact in general and are ideal for those with injuries and those who are disabled or elderly. Though it is not specifically a weights or strength training program of exercise, it can improve quality of life and general health. It must also be remembered that it is not intended as a high-impact cardio regimen, so if aerobic exercise is important to you, it might be wise to supplement Pilates with another form of exercise.
World Gym in Wantagh is a full service health club with everything you need to achieve your fitness goals. Personal trainers, yoga, pilates, swimming pool and more.
