The results of the Pilates Method begin to be noticed right away, so that even during the very first session you can feel how your muscles are working.
Pilates method inventor Joseph Pilates summed up the effectiveness of his method with the following sentence: “In ten sessions you will feel the difference, in twenty sessions you will see the difference, and in thirty sessions you will have a whole new body.”
The Pilates Method manages to change your body, your mind, and your entire way of relating to your body's environment. Everything is based on controlled movements of the body, stretching and strengthening each muscle and tendon and lubricating the joints. In this way, the sculpting of the body is achieved by working simultaneously on the physical, the mind, and the spirit.
The key to the Pilates method is to exercise the body from the center to the extremities, adopting practically all possible postures. To maximize its benefits, the practitioner must gradually master different exercises and levels, while using breath control is indispensable to activate each muscle with a specific purpose.
Pilates works carefully each joint to return its functionality and get the most out of it, obtaining spectacular results. In addition, for followers of the method, their Pilates practice is a very pleasant experience, since the movements are slow and precise and require a lot of concentration, which relaxes and releases tension from the body and stress or worries from the mind.
Some of the main benefits of Pilates are:
- Increases muscle tone and strengthens muscles without increasing volume and thereby achieving a sculpted physique with the much desired flat belly.
- Increases flexibility, agility, sense of balance, and improves coordination of movements.
- Improves postural alignment and corrects wrong postural habits.
- Preventing and rehabilitating injuries of the musculoskeletal system.
- By means of breathing and concentration, a state of global relaxation is achieved, thereby enabling the elimination of stress and muscular tensions and rigidity.
- Through body-mind integration, you can increase your self-esteem and your body image, obtaining not only physical but integral well-being and managing to change the way you relate to your body.
- Provides great vitality and strength, making it possible to minimize the effort to perform daily tasks or any other type of sport.
Who is it for?
The Pilates Method is indicated for everyone, both for those who are interested in increasing their physical activity, and for those who seek to improve their range of motion (such as top athletes) whether young, old, people who perform some other sport, or those that lead a more sedentary life.
It is highly recommended for people who are in the process of rehabilitation or who have suffered an injury. Pilates is fully integrated in rehabilitation programs by many physiotherapists who apply this technique, in combination with others, to treat their patients. Pilates is also ideal for all those who suffer back problems and seek a preventive activity.
In order to benefit from the Pilates method effects, it is recommended to carry out at least two sessions per week, either individually or in groups. Each session lasts approximately one hour.
However, to make your practice safe and effective, it is essential that it is supervised by a qualified Pilates instructor since this is the only way to guarantee that the exercises are carried out in a correct way, avoiding unnecessary injuries and obtaining optimal results.