Whilst Pilates isn’t so good at building muscle bulk or power, what it is great at is utilising your postural muscles. These are deep muscles that tend to be closer to the skeleton that hold us up against gravity and provide stability around the joints whilst we are moving.
Pilates experts often refer to the core as our internal powerhouse and core strength is a vital component of an effective practice.
This is in contrast to contracting and shortening the muscles. This lengthening work (known as ‘eccentric’ training) encourages long and strong muscles. This may help to strengthen without adding muscle bulk.
So, rather than toning muscles directly, it’s about a holistic approach to building muscle and reducing body fat for a leaner appearance.
Pilates is often overlooked and dismissed as a stretching routine, yet it’s one of the most effective ways to build long lean muscles.
We are more than happy to help anyone and point you in the right direction. Our biggest belief is that education is key. The more you understand about your injury, illness and movement, the more you are likely to improve.
Even though we have a close-knit community, we are not a social hour. Our programs are built to push you. GRIT is perfect for men and naturally bigger bodies, as our reformers are built to handle them. We bring weight lifting and athletic training practices to the reformer.
If your goal contrast suite is a lean, defined physique with improved posture and flexibility Pilates is the better choice.
We are unable to match our clients with partners, but please feel free to connect with other clients or invite a friend to join you.
In the world of medicine, physiology and sports science there is actually no such term as ‘toned’ or ‘toning’. There is the concept of a muscle having a resting ‘tone’ but this has nothing to do with how you look or how strong you are.
Pilates-based strength training exercises target multiple muscle groups simultaneously, helping to increase muscle mass, which in turn can increase calorie burn.
Pilates can be a great option for building strength and targeting specific muscle groups, while the gym offers a wider variety of equipment and exercises for an all-around workout.
Pilates is renowned for enhancing athletic performance, expediting injury recovery, and helping adults maintain their best selves through middle age and beyond. Here are three targeted benefits our clients experience from consistent Pilates training:
If traditional Pilates exercises are performed at a fast rate with less rest in between, you may find that your heart rate does go up and you get warm, indicating that you are burning off more energy.