Although you don’t usually break much of a sweat during a session, Pilates can still help you with your weight loss goals. Pilates can help to build and maintain lean muscle mass while you are losing weight and promote long elegant posture. It focuses on major muscles groups and slow intentional movements. Many people are successful at losing weight with Pilates because they become much more aware of their bodies and in turn treat them better and make better food choices.
5 WAYS TO BECOME TRIM AND TONED BY PRACTICING PILATES FOR WEIGHT LOSS
1) More Muscles = More Calories Burned
Creating muscle mass is one of the best ways to increase your calorie-burning potential. Pilates can help you accomplish that in spades. “Simply stated, Pilates is strength training. We work with resistance to increase strength and hence, muscle mass. Using springs and different apparatus to increase the load to the muscles, we can affect a metabolic increase by building lean muscle mass,” says Alycea Ungaro, owner of Real Pilates NYC.
2) Looking Thinner
One of the best ways to look and feel thinner is to have good posture. Pilates helps create betterposture by firming not only your abs, but your back too. “All Pilates work is performed with proper alignment and attention to posture. By establishing optimal spinal alignment, you can facilitate better circulation, improved lymphatic flow and increased stamina of the muscles along the spine,” says Ungaro. Not only will toned spinal muscles help you continue to lose weight via increased metabolism, standing up straight will automatically make you look thinner, thereby increasing your confidence as well.
3) Crafting Your Core
Pilates is all about core strength. Your core is made up of not only your front and side abdominals, but your entire back as well. “Pilates teaches people how to use their abdominals correctly-how to contract the abdominal wall rather than let it distend. This simple mechanism can be used 24/7 in your daily life. That is the single reason that Pilates flattens abs so quickly,” says Ungaro. Lugging groceries, toiling in the garden, reading on the beach-flat abs come in handy all the time! Both toned abs and a strong back have many benefits, such as helping to prevent injury, improve posture, reduce lower back pain and even promote proper bowel function.
4) Kitchen Inspiration
Toned core, strong back, increased metabolism – it’s easy to see how Pilates could make someone a bit more confident. “The benefits spill over into other aspects of your life. You will immediately stand taller, hold your waist tighter and feel stronger. This increased body awareness will make you less likely to indulge in unhealthy habits,” says Ungaro. Indulge-like that third or fourth cookie you had at last weekend’s barbeque? Use your newfound confidence to “tone” up your kitchen. Your local farmers’ market is full of healthy, edible inspiration that will make you think twice about the word “diet.” Seeing the incredible feats your body is capable of is incredibly motivating. You will have a new respect for your body and are more likely to take better care of it,” adds Ungaro.
5) Complete with Cardio
No Pilates for weight loss regimen is complete without good old-fashioned cardio work. Combining the strength training benefits of Pilates and a consistent cardio workout, you’ll lose weight and tone up nearly twice as fast as just doing either routine on its own. The type and level of workout you participate in can really make a difference in how many calories you burn. Some pilates classes are slower and based more on principles, some are moderate, and some are geared towards weight loss by doing rapid fire workouts with added pilates props like the jump board on the reformer.
References:
http://life.gaiam.com/article/how-pilates-can-help-you-lose-weight
http://thinkpilates.com/pilates-exercise-and-weight-loss/ith its unique list of benefits.
Article Submitted by: Wendy Haddad
READY TO LOSE WEIGHT?
Found this article helpful? Share it with your friends and family!