Trying to figure out if Pilates is the right form of exercise for your needs? Pilates differs from many other forms of exercise in its specific approach and focus. It’s key to develop a strong understanding both of these differences and of your personal goals to determine how closely they are aligned.
Let’s go through some common fitness-related goals that many people have and see how they mesh with the process and outcomes of Pilates.
1. Muscle and Joint Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation is a very common goal for many people, whether they’re recovering from injuries, dealing with the effects of aging, or trying to be proactive in preventing injury recurrence. Many people utilize rehabilitation services of one form or another, and they account for nearly one-third of all U.S. healthcare expenditures.
The progenitor of Pilates, Joseph Hubertus Pilates, approached fitness from a rehabilitative angle from the very beginning. This is because, as a child, he suffered from a number of chronic health conditions, including asthma. He desired to use fitness as a means to improve one’s health overall. Many of the Pilates movements for beginners are gentle enough for muscle and joint rehabilitation, and can help speed up recovery.
2. Injury Prevention
From its inception, Pilates had close ties to dance, particularly to ballet. When he moved from Germany to the United States, Joseph Pilates married a dancer by the name of Clara Zeuner. They shared the Pilates studio they opened up with the New York City Ballet, and trained many of the ballerinas in the ways of Pilates.
The prevalence of injuries in ballet is well-known, making for a common and well-founded fear among ballerinas. By using Pilates to strengthen your core and improve your balance and stability, you can increase your resistance to injury. Even a quick warmup consisting of some simple and easy Pilates movements for beginners can work wonders for preparing your body for athletic performance.
U.S. healthcare is already incredibly expensive and inefficient, with nearly $1 trillion of waste each year. By being proactive and performing conditioning exercises such as Pilates that reduce our risk of injury, we can avoid getting swept up in this costly system.
3. Fitness From Anywhere
While in the time of COVID-19 many Pilates studios are closed, that doesn’t mean that you can’t get started today. If there’s one thing this pandemic is teaching us, it’s just how much we can accomplish from the comfort of our own homes. As many as 69% of entrepreneurs are starting businesses from their homes, people are making music and writing novels from their homes, and many folks are getting serious about fitness to avoid getting out of shape while stuck inside.
Yes, the famous reformer that many Pilates studios use may be too large and expensive for the home. But something as simple as a mat is enough to get started on your Pilates journey. Order a mat online and follow along to some instructional videos of Pilates movements for beginners to get started right away!
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