Slimming down your figure requires a holistic combination of daily, healthy choices. Proper diet and regular exercise are the foundation of effective weight loss, but did you know that practices like Pilates can play a big role in your fitness journey?
Bodyweight and resistance training exercises can act as an easy introduction to physical activity, and provide skills and strength that will support your health journey for many years to come. If you want to lose weight, starting to move is always the first step. Perhaps Pilates is the right choice to kick off your weight loss journey.
This article outlines the benefits of Pilates and the role it can play in weight loss. For personalised health advice, contact our friendly team at The Physio Movement today.
What is Pilates?
Pilates is a method of exercise that dates all the way back to the 1920s. The easiest way to explain Pilates is that it’s a system of repeated motions and exercises performed on yoga mats or other equipment, such as reformer machines. These exercises focus on flexibility, strength, and stability. Pilates routines can work to improve the well-being of the overall body, developing muscles and tone with exercises that stem from strengthening the core.
As well as improving strength, muscle tone, and flexibility, Pilates provides a wonderful awareness of the body. Exercises practiced in class can be applied to everyday life, supporting essential movements with graceful and healthy techniques. Pilates has boomed in popularity over the years, providing many people with invaluable injury recovery, low-impact exercise, and an easy way to care for their body’s natural structures.
Weight Loss with Pilates
A big appeal of Pilates is that it’s a low-impact, gentle exercise option. Classes help many people to tone up their bodies, build lean muscle, and improve important functions such as flexibility and posture. Routinely practicing Pilates holds great health benefits, and can be a powerful way to help keep a healthy weight.
Pilates may not, however, be quite as effective for weight loss as other exercises. Generally speaking, Pilates classes aren’t going to burn as many calories as other cardio exercises (such as running, cycling, or swimming) might. Your time spent on a Pilates mat will be focused on strength and flexibility as opposed to increasing your heart rate and burning calories.
Ultimately, the amount of calories burned in a Pilates class depends on your current fitness level, the difficulty of the class, and whether it’s a mat or reformer session. A Pilates workout that elevates your heart rate will be the most effective for burning calories.
Maximising Your Health
If you enjoy Pilates classes, you’ve got a better chance of maintaining a healthy body weight and lifestyle. While they may not be the most effective way to burn calories in an exercise session, skills gained in Pilates will improve your body’s capacity for exercise and daily movement. Committing yourself to regular Pilates classes will make you more likely to stick to your fitness routine.
If weight loss is your ideal goal, Pilates can certainly play an impactful role. Combining Pilates with a healthy diet and other varieties of exercise is an effective solution, especially if you alternate between Pilates and cardio exercises such as walking, cycling, swimming, or running.
How Often Should You Practice Pilates?
Starting Pilates for the first time? To best experience all the physical benefits on offer, we recommend practicing two to three times a week. This will get your body into the routine and help you to see practical results and improvement. You can also take the opportunity to try out a range of different classes, including more advanced ones such as reformer classes or combination classes (involving things such as yoga).
These full-body exercise classes are more likely to burn calories. If you’re starting up a new fitness routine in an attempt to lose weight, it’s best to look for more advanced Pilates classes that are going to push you. Alternating these sessions with cardio and strength training is the best way to reach your weight goals.
Start Your Pilates Journey Today with TPM
If you’re considering giving Pilates a try, we cannot recommend it enough! While it may not burn high levels of calories, introducing Pilates to your exercise routine is full of physical benefits that will last you a lifetime. Here at The Physio Movement, we offer Pilates classes catered to a wide range of skill levels and desired results, from beginner to advanced. Whether it’s weight loss or injury rehabilitation you’re looking for, we can lend a hand!
Contact our team today to book a Mat Movement Assessment, and we’ll ensure we find the perfect Pilates class for you.
