Pilates, the exercise method developed by Joseph Pilates, employs techniques that train the body to work with the mind. Through a series of stretching, breathing, and muscle toning techniques, Pilates is designed to improve the body’s flexibility, balance, and muscle tone. While Pilates may be a great way to implement low-impact exercise into your workout, Pilates is not a cardiovascular workout and is not designed to promote weight loss on its own.
In order for Pilates, or any other form of exercise, to assist with weight loss, it has to be accompanied by a well-balanced, carefully monitored diet. For the body to lose weight, it must burn more calories than it consumes. While this seems a simple enough concept, many people mistakenly believe that any form of exercise will initiate weight loss regardless of what they eat. The truth is, you have to be participating in an activity that actually burns off more calories than you are consuming each day, making a healthy diet equally as important as the form of exercise you choose.
With Pilates it is entirely possible, if not likely, that you can improve your overall muscle tone and flexibility and that you might even increase your energy levels. Because Pilates is based on a system that incorporates breathing and movement into the physical development of both the body and the mind, Pilates can take a while to learn. Most professional trainers and fitness instructors agree that you should take private classes to learn the proper techniques in order to receive the full benefit of Pilates. However, classes can be expensive and many people prefer to exercise in the comfort of their own home.
If you are looking for a weight loss program, you can consider using Pilates as part of your exercise routine, but you should also talk to a physician or trainer about implementing other forms of exercise into your regimen. Aerobic exercise, bike riding, and walking provide a cardiovascular workout and burn calories that Pilates can’t.
If you are looking for a weight loss program, you can consider using Pilates as part of your exercise routine, but you should also talk to a physician or trainer about implementing other forms of exercise into your regimen. Aerobic exercise, bike riding, and walking provide a cardiovascular workout and burn calories that Pilates can’t.
Though Pilates might prove to be a great benefit to you, as it has to many people, practicing it alone will not help you lose weight. A dietitian or doctor can recommend both diet and exercise strategies that will promote weight loss. If you want those strategies to include Pilates, then give it a try. Just keep in mind that exercise alone is not enough to promote weight loss.