Pilates: A Versatile, Flexible and Fun Form of Movement
Written by Ashley Taylor and originally posted on taylorpilatesandfitness.com.
One of the many benefits of including Pilates as part of your regular exercise plan is that it can be tailored to support your personal goals. At Taylor Pilates and Fitness, we customize Pilates sessions for our clients whether they are using Pilates for rehab or want to keep flexible, mobile, and strong as they age.
What is Pilates?
Pilates, named after founder Joseph Pilates, is a form of exercise that’s effective for nearly everyone from beginners to athletes, women and men, Millennials to seniors and every age in between. The low-impact movements in Pilates strengthen core muscles, build flexibility, stability, and endurance. Although specialized equipment can be used for Pilates such as the Reformer, an apparatus we have at the studio, there are many Pilates mat exercises that can be done on the floor. This makes Pilates a flexible and versatile form of exercise that will help you move well in the studio and at home or traveling.
Pilates for Rehab
Since Pilates emphasizes whole body movement, core control, and proper alignment, it builds a great foundation for clients that are recovering from an accident or injury and want to resume all the activities they enjoyed before the injury. Pilates for rehab exercises can be adjusted to your comfort level. A critical part of our practice is helping our clients understand their body and movement. This information empowers clients using Pilates for rehab to have the tools outside the studio to make their rehabilitation successful.
Build Core Control and Maintain Flexibility with Pilates
Pilates is an exercise accessible to all. Even though Pilates was founded by a man in part to rehabilitate soldiers, for many years it appealed to women more than men. Luckily, that’s no longer the case because Pilates for men offers many benefits including building core control and maintaining flexibility. In fact, Pilates is an extraordinary cross-training tool that can help you perform even better with other activities you enjoy such as skiing, cycling, lifting weights, and more. The whole-body movements of Pilates will improve your overall fitness by working all muscle groups, many that are neglected with other forms of exercise.
Improve Balance, Strength, and Mobility with Pilates
As we age, it’s important to keep moving so that we don’t lose balance, strength, and mobility. Pilates for seniors focuses on whole-body movement to keep full function, avoid muscle loss, and reduce injuries. The low-impact, gentle movements of Pilates help you learn how to move your body well. We think it’s never too early—or too late—to begin a Pilates practice.
Pilates is an ideal exercise for every body—man or woman, athlete or novice, young and old. Since Pilates is very flexible, we customize our Pilates sessions with you to achieve the goals you have. We invite you to learn more about how Pilates could benefit you and your body. Please call or text us at 303-472-6743 to schedule an introductory session at Taylor Pilates and Fitness.