Jules Hardman

Feel Great With Pilates

In the midst of winter, when you’ve had a hard day at work and the gym seems like a chore, a Pilates class is the perfect choice. With Pilates you feel – and see – results quickly, which provides great motivation. Pilates Matwork classes are a full body workout. Not only can you feel the exercises working, but also you feel great afterwards!

Pilates isn’t just a celebrity fad. It really works. And here’s why…

In Pilates the quality of movement is more important than the quantity of repetitions. Correct breathing is essential, and helps you execute movements with maximum power and efficiency, learning to breathe properly can reduce stress.

Pilates exercises will help you develop a strong “core,” or center of the body. The core consists of the deep abdominal muscles along with the muscles closest to the spine.

It’s gentle…

Many of the exercises are performed lying on a mat, and most are low impact and partially weight bearing.

But it’s also challenging…

Pilates is also an extremely flexible exercise system. Modifications to the exercises allow for a range of difficulty from beginners to advanced.

Improves your posture…

Poor posture forms as a result of bad habits such as slouching at your desk and chair, which can eventually cause backache, neck ache, headache, etc. The bad habits will result in asymmetrical muscle development, where some muscles are weaker than others. Pilates can help to strengthen those underdeveloped muscles and get rid of bad posture.

Pilates is for everyone…

Pilates can be tailored towards any age group.

Improves your sports performance

Many sportsmen and women find that their bodies are misaligned due to the one-sided nature of certain sports e.g. swinging a tennis racquet or golf clubs. As Pilates helps to balance your body, develop muscular symmetry and align your posture, sportsmen and women find that Pilates can help to reduce the likelihood of injuries.

Pilates creates long, lean muscles and flexibility

More conventional or traditional workouts are weight bearing and tend to build short, bulky muscles – the type most prone to injury. Pilates elongates and strengthens, improving muscle elasticity and joint mobility. A body with balanced strength and flexibility is less likely to be injured. Flexibility can be achieved only when all muscles are uniformly developed.

Pilates is also time-efficient

You can be in, worked out and out again in just over an hour.

So whether first thing in the morning or after a long day at work, Pilates provides a great escape in a fun, small group environment.