In Pilates, if you have spent any time at all in the gym or doing other fitness based activities, then you will have heard over and over again how important it is to develop core strength and flexibility. The reason for this is quite simple, developing and maintaining flexibility and core strength is integral to living a healthy and active lifestyle. Developing core strength and flexibility, especially in Pilates class is an important aspect of Pilates for beginners and advanced. It is an essential component of Pilates exercise in protecting our bodies from injury when participating in any physically challenging activities such as sports, manual labour or even more simple tasks such as gardening! Not only that, but having good core strength and flexibility attuned through core Pilates exercise will help keep us mobile and independent into our golden years.
Core Strength and core muscles are being used at almost every moment in our awake state, in exercises such as this:
- Twisting
- Lifting
- Throwing
- Rowing
- Balancing
And even walking to even just standing or sitting up straight. Working on maintaining core strength can improve and prevent back pain as well as improve posture. Often people think about having a six pack or ripped abs when it comes to core strength, actually core strength training is a lot more important to physical health than just physical appearances. The core makes up our entire torso area, and real core strength comes from within. When there is balance in Pilates core strength and core muscle training, then there is also balance between the body’s back and front muscle groups. In fact, an imbalance can actually set you up for injury, so it is essential to work on and strengthen internally as well as externally on those core areas.
Flexibility is important throughout our whole body. Not only does it help our joints work through their full range of flexibility and enable us to move about with more ease and comfort, but flexibility exercises also enable our muscles to function at their most proficient. This helps protect us from injury especially when participating in sports or any general physical activity whether that be in core training or cardio. Often when people think of flexibility exercises the first thing that comes to mind is whether or not they can touch their toes, but flexibility is much much more than just loosening the body. Keeping the muscles, ligaments and tendons throughout your whole body flexible, including your hips, spine and shoulders. It is extremely important to include flexibility as part of maintaining overall health and fitness.
Fortunately there are many different classes and programs that focus on both flexibility and core strength. These are available in gyms, fitness centres and classes. Practices such as Pilates and core exercise based workouts and stretches can also help a person recover and regain strength or movement after an injury.
So, if you are considering getting fit and want the best in overall fitness you can bypass a lot of arduous routines and concentrate on core fitness and flexibility to lose weight and attain absolute fitness. Core strength training and flexibility exercise work the heart and the body while clearing the mind for total body workouts that for with your best ever self!
Pilates
Pilates uses a combination of exercises that are done with precision and control in order to develop core strength and increase physical flexibility. It is often practised with the aid of gentle equipment such as resistance bands, double handed ring and soft balls and a back and head supporting floor mat. Pilates uses safe Pilates practice which, like yoga, is able to help levels of strength and flexibility. This means that there is always space to improve personal fitness and to improve through core strength training and gentle and effective flexibility exercises.
Try a class today to find out how beneficial these simple exercises are and to experience how quickly your body responds to overall core fitness and flexibility.
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