And it’s true that, for the most part, you’re not going to leave a Pilates class drenched in sweat – but that’s not to say you won’t feel the burn.
Another way that Pilates may help you to have the appearance of becoming more toned is by improving the way that you carry yourself. As you become more aware of your body you may naturally alter your posture to look longer and leaner.
Pilates can be part of a plan to achieve a toned stomach, but it’s not the only factor. It engages = your abdominal muscles and builds core strength, but it takes more than just exercise to reveal a defined six-pack.
Let’s face it, we all seem to be more stressed than ever right now – and it’s no secret that hardcore cardio workouts can further increase our cortisol levels, sending our stress responses sky high. But we also know that exercise is a known stress reliever. The solution? You guessed it – Pilates.
But make sure to not overdo it. Just because you have a “problem” area you want to target, does not mean you should be spending your workouts only focussing on that area.
Wall Pilates is a popular variation that uses a wall for support and resistance. It adds new challenges and ways to make traditional exercises harder.
The term “toning” as applied to exercise was likely introduced to the fitness world as a marketing term. Its purpose? To encourage women to do strength training during decades when the concept of gaining muscle bulk was considered unfeminine and therefore off putting club poses to women.
Performing Pilates regularly means that you are repeatedly using your muscles and the more that you contract your muscles, the better your brain gets at telling them to move.
You don’t need heavy weights to build muscle. Pilates builds lean muscle using your body weight, resistance from equipment like the Reformer, and small, targeted movements that keep muscles under tension.
It’s a common misconception that you can “tone” muscles. Muscles by nature are lean mass – they can only grow or shrink in size.
It makes your body look more balanced and attractive by making weaker muscles stronger and making tight areas more flexible. This balanced growth not only looks good, but it also helps keep you from getting hurt.
However, you should not rely on this method of exercise if you are keen to lose weight. There are some classes that combine cardiovascular exercise and Pilates and these may be more appropriate.
“Pilates might be low impact but it’s high in efficiency,” says Folkard. “Every class will work the body in its entirety, improving both global strength and recruiting
While not traditionally used for weight loss, Pilates can accelerate fat loss and refine your shape as part of a comprehensive lifestyle plan. Muscle conditioning boosts your metabolism while core engagement and breathing teach mindfulness and self-regulation skills that reduce stress hormones and emotional eating triggers. Pilates perfectly complements a clean eating regimen for safe, sustainable weight loss.