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Benefits of Pilates and Strength Training
Improve flexibility and mobility, enhance core strength and balance, and reduce pain
Muscle development can mean many things and can be achieved in numerous ways. Continuing to build muscle helps you stay strong and will improve your health and well-being. Muscle strength is closely linked to our quality of life. As we age, we naturally lose muscle and this can lead to reduced mobility, frail bones, and loss of balance. By working on muscle development through consistent practice we can slow down the muscle loss and enjoy a better quality of life.
Pilates and strength training
The benefits of Pilates include improved flexibility and mobility, enhanced core strength, better balance, and reduction in pain. Pilates focuses on spinal strengthening and mobility to increase the strength of your body’s framework. There is a lengthening and strengthening benefit that comes from doing Pilates by working to strengthen the deep intrinsic muscles of the spine and joints.
Strength training improves muscle fatigue resistance as well as bone health. Lifting heavy works beyond the body’s framework to help define and build muscle even as we keep aging. But lifting heavy should begin with strengthening the body’s framework. Strength training should be started with lighter weights and gradual increases to avoid overload and stress to the joints and tendons.
Benefits of both
Improved posture and core strength
Your skeletal system needs support. Poor posture can lead to a lot of pain due to a weakness in the muscles that surround your spine. The muscles that surround your spine make up your core, and this is the focus and essence of Pilates. Developing the deep intrinsic muscles that turn on when standing up or sitting up is essential to any muscle development regimen.
Improved metabolism
Muscle tissue is metabolically active. In other words, at rest muscle will burn more calories than fat. This is part of living healthy and being able to manage your weight as well as achieving fat loss, if that is your goal.
Improved functional strength
Every-day activities can be made easier to accomplish when the body is stronger. Carrying things, moving from sitting to standing, and activities that require lifting or reaching are that much easier when muscle development is part of your life.
Bone Health
Weight-bearing exercises that build muscle also stimulate bone density, which is crucial as we age. Osteoporosis can lead to weakness in the bone structure and put you at risk for easier breaks. This can often go undetected until a bone breaks. Hormones, aging, eating habits, medications, tobacco, alcohol, and a sedentary life style can all contribute to loss in bone density. Muscle development acts as a protective function to your bone health.
Interested in a class that combines strength training and Pilates? Try Supersets!
You can find us in Mendota Heights at Hello@PilatesLoftFitness.com