Pilates
Pilates is younger than yoga and was invented in the 20th century for muscle rehabilitation. While it’s still low-impact, pilates is a bit more dynamic than most schools of yoga and has a bigger focus on fitness. Instead of holding static poses, it’s all about slow movement designed to tone, strengthen and improve posture. While yoga concentrates on flexibility, pilates focuses on core strength and body conditioning. Think planks, sidekicks and slow pushups.
Benefits of Pilates
Core Strength
Movements in pilates target your core, even though it’s technically a total body workout. This happens because many exercises require you to stabilise your torso, whole moving your arms or legs in different directions. This activates the abdominal muscles and other major groups to improve core stability and core control. It also results in a firmer stomach.
Posture
Pilates can improve your physical posture. It does this by engaging your deep core muscles, i.e. the abdominals, back and pelvic floor. This allows your shoulders and neck to relax. It also reduces pressure on your hips, legs and feet. The result is better posture and confidence. It also reduces your risk for injury and the potential of urinary incontinence.
Stress Relief
You need to focus on your body when you do pilates movements. Research shows that having body awareness when you move is good for your nervous system. This may even result in lower stress hormones (cortisol) and more endorphins in your blood. This is good news if you have stress, anxiety or depression.
Pain Reduction
Pilates improves core strength, muscle health and flexibility. This, progressively, helps the body function more efficiently. It also stimulates self-healing processes. This makes pilates excellent for treating acute and chronic pain related to the musculoskeletal system. This further reduces your risk of injuries because your body is in better shape.
PY Fusion (Pilates & Yoga)
Tuesdays 10.00-11.00am
Join Mitchell every Tuesday for PY Fusion - the perfect blend of pilates and yoga. Building on the 6 main principles of Pilates:
Centering
Concentration
Precision
Control
Breath
Flow
Mitchell brings the core, breath, mobility and stretch together with mindful technique. Classes are designed to empower you to try new ways of moving your mind and body with thoughtful direction and detailed answers to all your burning questions.
Once you learn these principles the benefits to you are vast and include-
Increased mental fitness - breathing and concentration help you to develop mental focus and fitness as you complete your workouts, which can reduce stress levels and increase happiness
Improved posture - all the exercises you perform in Pilates promote correct skeletal alignment, which strengthen the muscles which are responsible for good posture. This then allows you to move more freely, breathe easily and helps avoid conditions such as poor circulation, back aches, neck pain, a tight chest and slipped discs
Better balance - many of the exercises improve your balance, which means better coordination, reduced risk of falling, makes you more agile and increases your reaction times
Reduced injury risk - Pilates strengthens your joints and improves your flexibility, making you less likely to get injured during exercise and day to day life
Increased strength - Pilates sessions ensure that all the muscles in your body get targeted and that no muscle groups are ignored, which means you develop functional strength and endurance
Enhanced core stability - the principle of centering states that strength should be developed from the inside out and that every movement should begin from the core and flow outwards to the limbs. A strong core means that the deep muscles in your abdomen, lower back and pelvic floor are strengthened, providing your body with stability
Improved flexibility - the dynamic movements in Pilates gently stretch and lengthen your muscles while also increasing the range of motion in your joints. This improved flexibility can reduce muscle soreness, enhance blood flow and reduce your risk of injury
Healthier blood - improved posture and flexibility enhances your circulation, a reduction in stress will lower your blood pressure, and the controlled breathing techniques will ensure your blood is fully oxygenated
Greater stamina - Pilates involves flowing sequences of exercises that constantly engage your muscles and build up your endurance. This means that your overall energy levels are increased and increases your stamina