Benefits of Pilates for Body Posture

Pilates is now increasingly popular throughout the world, including Indonesia. Taken from the name of its creator, Joseph Pilates, the body offers a variety of benefits for the body. Basically, pilates consist of various movements that focus on the stomach, lower back, pelvis, and thighs. The method used consists of resistance movements and muscle strength, as well as flexibility exercises that are classified as low-impact.

Improve Body Condition

When done regularly, many of the benefits of pilates can be obtained by the body, including:

• Pilates will train the mind to coordinate and act symmetrically with the body. Furthermore, a person will have more awareness to move, sit or stand with the right posture thanks to pilates exercises. This will help to avoid and reduce the pain due to body position that was not good before.
• Pilates will accustom a person to move the body synergistically, not only based on the main muscle groups. Thus, the body becomes more coordinated and balanced.
• Pilates not only focuses exercise on the abdomen, but also increases the strength of the core muscles of the body, including the abdominal muscles, lower back, hips and buttocks.
• Increase flexibility or flexibility of the body.
• Improve spinal stability.
• The shoulders, neck and upper back become more relaxed.
• Preventing and rehabilitating musculoskeletal injuries and other injuries related to muscle imbalance.
• Safe for rehabilitation of joint and spinal injuries.
• Improve circulation and lung capacity.
• Control stress and improve concentration.

Understand the Basic Principles of Pilates

For those of you who want to get a stable body and strong stomach muscles, you can try doing pilates. There are several important principles in practicing the Pilates movement optimally:

• Concentration and breathing

When doing pilates movements, you must focus on each movement, because pilates are done sequentially and one by one. Pilates training also requires special breathing techniques.

• Muscle strength

Pilates will help you build and strengthen body muscles. This exercise will use your body weight, not using weights or similar weights. Pilates also increases body flexibility, but keep in mind that this is not a type of aerobic exercise. You can combine pilates with aerobic exercises such as walking, running, swimming or swimming

• Training is centered on the core body muscle groups

The main focus of the Pilates movement is the core muscles of the body, but you will also exercise strength in the legs and arms. The quality of the posture in each pilates movement takes precedence over the number of repetitions or how strong you are doing the movement.

• Efficient

Pilates does not require expensive fees. This exercise usually only uses a mattress. You can buy Pilates exercise videos and do it yourself at home. However, as a beginner you are advised to take a pilates class so that the instructor can supervise you to prevent injury.

• Training for beginners

Pilates is a great sport for beginners. Pilates is useful for strengthening muscles but gently. Although you don't always sweat with this exercise, your muscles will feel it every time you exercise.

Conditions to Look For Before Taking Pilates

Pilates may be seen as a light and harmless exercise. However, some health conditions are not recommended for pilates. For example, for those of you who have unstable blood pressure, suffer from severe osteoporosis, a herniated disk, and are at risk of developing blood clots. If you are pregnant or over 40 years old and are not accustomed to exercising, consult first before doing pilates movements.

Difference between Pilates and Yoga

Which is better, pilates or yoga? If you are confused about choosing between pilates or yoga, the following points can be taken into consideration.

• Yoga is often done with meditation and breathing techniques deeper than pilates. But both of them focus their training on strength and flexibility.
• Pilates concentrates on strengthening the core muscles of the body and spine, while yoga focuses on the muscles of the body.
• Yoga involves static poses while pilates moves more from one pose to another.
• Yoga requires considerable flexibility and joint movement, especially in the spine, hips, and wrists. Therefore, people who have pain in certain parts or limited movements may find it difficult to follow some yoga movements. Whereas pilates can be practiced by parents or those who are recovering from injuries.

Now there are many videos that teach pilates movements to do at home. However pilates is recommended to be carried out under the supervision of experienced instructors, especially for beginners. This is important so that you can get the maximum benefits of Pilates, while avoiding the risk of injury. And if you have certain diseases, consult with your instructor or doctor first.