Pilates for Beginners – How and Why You Should Start Doing Pilates Today

Have you heard about Pilates? Yeah, it’s that thing that is like yoga, but not really… that burns more calories. And have you wondered whether you should give it a try or just go back to the gym and do what you always do? Here are a few reasons why you should reconsider checking Pilates off your to-do list.

Pilates for Beginners

Before I started doing Pilates, I used to think it was all about the abs. I looked up a few videos on Youtube, and there were these beautiful ladies doing different types of crunches or sitting in what I knew from yoga as the boat pose… and it didn’t look all that appealing. Another thing I used to think  was that Pilates was very much targeted at young and already fit women, and nobody else could survive a whole class of it without breaking down into painful cramps. Oh, and you need all that fancy equipment.

However, the truth about Pilates is that it’s for everyone – and I mean everyone. It doesn’t matter whether you are sixteen or sixty – if you want to do it, you can do it. The beauty of Pilates is that almost every pose in it is designed with variations, which are meant to suit and challenge everyone’s personal fitness level. If something is too difficult, just assume an easier version of it and keep going. Furthermore, you don’t actually need any special equipment, which means that if you think you would feel embarrassed going to a real Pilates class because you feel you are too behind (a rootless fear anyway), you can do it from home using nothing more than a simple yoga mat (your floor will also do if you really don’t want to invest in this new venture). You can find Pilates DVDs  anywhere,  and free tutorial videos are also available all around the net. You see, all you really need is the desire to start.

Pilates for Beginners

If you are wondering why you should give Pilates a go, take a look at this:

Starting off, this is a great way to lose weight and tone your body. The exercises are developed so as to build long, lean muscles that work better, burn more calories, and therefore look better. Because Pilates is built around the core muscles, it can give you those dream abs without neglecting any other part of your body if practiced regularly. Furthermore, it improves your posture, which reduces back pain or the chances of it occurring over the years. Pilates also increases flexibility. Perhaps it won’t enable you to do things that yoga would, but it definitely stretches your muscles and burns some more calories on the way. Pilates improves sleep, as it teaches you how to calm down your body. It also accounts for better sex, as it gives you a confidence injection from looking and feeling better as well as increased flexibility and toning of the pelvic floor.

Have I convinced you already? Head to the nearest Pilates studio or find the best online video tutorials, and begin your Pilates journey today. Start small and work your way up to the healthier and better-looking body of your dreams.

What´s the difference between yoga and pilates? find out here in another article