Pilates zeroes in on your deepest abdominal muscles and the muscles along the spine with focused core conditioning. These evidence-based exercises build internal corset strength that traditional crunches simply cannot replicate.
Exhale as you continue to roll up, reaching forward towards your toes while keeping your legs straight.
For example, it is common for people to stand in a resting position with their lower back arched, which means that their stomach protrudes. Standing in a way that reduces the arch of the lower back prevents the stomach from sticking out.
Unlike traditional workouts that mainly target superficial muscles, Pilates works on stabilizing muscles like the transverse abdominis, multifidus, and pelvic floor muscles.
After graduating from The Citadel, I began working with middle and high school football teams to develop functional strength and conditioning programs. Soon after, I began coaching amateur and professional MMA athletes.
In addition to consistent Pilates practice, you also need to maintain a healthy diet and incorporate cardiovascular activities for overall body fat reduction.
Any action taken as a direct or indirect result of the information in this article is entirely at your own risk and is your sole responsibility.
If your goal is a lean, defined physique with improved posture and flexibility Pilates is the better choice.
Limited variety of exercises compared to the gym which reduces the ability to progressively overload the exercise. Progressive overload is one of the critical components of gaining muscle mass.
However, even practicing Pilates once a week can still provide benefits, especially when combined with other forms of exercise.
Pilates-based strength training exercises target multiple muscle groups simultaneously, helping to increase muscle mass, which in turn can increase calorie burn.
While studying and developing functional strength methodologies, I was introduced to The Pilates Method. This was a truly eye-opening experience. After a couple of months of working with a classical Pilates teacher, I was amazed at how my body felt, looked, and responded to all other activities.
One of the great things about Pilates is that it can does pilates tone your body target a variety of muscle groups, all while using your own body weight as resistance.
Unlike workouts that isolate just one area or rely on heavy weights, Pilates uses controlled resistance and intentional movement to engage muscles deeply and evenly. The result? Better posture, more definition, and a stronger, more stable body overall.