For strength, it’s pilates to the core

Pilates concentrates on strengthening the body with an emphasis on core strength.

Joseph Pilates, who invented pilates, rightfully said that it is the complete coordination of mind, body and soul as it not only develops the body but the mind, too.

It is a form of exercise which concentrates on strengthening the body with an emphasis on core strength. While doing various exercises, your mind needs to be constantly aware of breathing. For every exercise you think you’ve mastered, pilates has another version that’s a little different and a little tougher.

These core-driven workouts are known to target abs, obliques, lower back and glutes. The top five benefits of pilates include:

Increases strength

Pilates is a full body exercise, working on not only the superficial muscles of the body but also the deeper minute muscles.

Improves posture

Having a good posture is essential. When the body’s alignment is off, it often causes stress, especially on the spine which in turn results in backache and injuries. Pilates helps reduce the imbalance in the body.

Increases energy

Some of the vital effects of pilates include increased blood circulation, lung health, concentration and better posture. Pilates is a mind-and-body-focused exercise regime, and a lot of focus is on the breathing technique.

Stergthens the core

Pilates is all about strengthening the core, the powerhouse of the body. While exercising, no matter which part of the body, pilates focuses on engaging the core muscles.

(The author is co-founder,
The Pilates Studio)