Benefits of the Method

The effects of the practice of Pilates are soon noticeable so as to even after the first session you will feel the great workout of your abdominal muscles.

When first experiencing the Pilates method, clients break ineffective exercise and movement habits accumulated over the years and relearn correct movement patterns. Although time and practice is required to undo years of bad habits, clients will experience noticeable changes to their body after the first few sessions of Pilates.

As Joseph Pilates said: "in 10 sessions, you will feel the difference, in 20 sessions, you will see the difference, and in 30 sessions you will have a new body.”

Joseph Pilates also pointed out: "Pilates is designed to give you suppleness, natural grace, and skill that will be unmistakably reflected in the way you walk, in the way you play, and in the way you work". Therefore, with commitment and regular practice, you will find your body moving with greater agility and ease, and its effects carrying over into your everyday life such as the way you sit and stand.

Although some of the results of Pilates are soon noticeable, it is important to maintain a commitment to consistent, attentive practice in order to maximize its benefits.
The practice of Pilates takes you on a journey into finding your body and connecting with your mind. As you progress on Pilates practice, your body's shape and capabilities change and you will become more aware of them. In this journey you will constantly be discovering your body even after many years of practice. This is why it is so important to keep commitment in the practice of the Method.

Some of the major benefits of Pilates training are building strong lean muscles, improvement of your posture, concentration, flexibility and efficiency of movement and mobility. Pilates is also used for injury prevention and rehabilitation, as well as a treatment for afflictions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis and chronic fatigue syndrome. You will feel improvements in your mobility, flexibility, strength, and stamina.

The regular and correct practice of Pilates has numerous benefits, such as:

• Pilates develops a strong "core," or center of the body which helps to keep a balanced mind-body. By stabilizing your core Pilates works the small, deep muscles needed to keep your body steady when walking and your spine both supple and strong. This results in an increase in your sense of balance and better coordination.
  In addition Pilates improves drammatically your mobility, flexibility, strength, and stamina.
  
  
• Pilates helps to build a body with balanced strength and flexibility by strengthening, toning up and elongating the muscles and by developing muscle elasticity, joint mobility and flexible joints in the body. As a result, Pilates improves posture and corrects bad postural habits.
  
  
• Pilates conditions the whole body allowing the entire musculature to be evenly balanced and conditioned. In order to do so, Pilates exercises work on all the parts of the body as an integrated whole assuring that no muscle group is overtrained or undertrained. This develops the inner-strength of the body and enables one to undertake daily activities and sports with greater ease and less chance of injury.
  In addition, the practice of Pilates creates a slim, sleek and attractive figure.
  
  
• As a result of the principle of integration, Pilates exercises train several muscle groups at once, in smooth, continuous movements following efficient patterns of motion.
  As a result, Pilates helps to eradicate bad postural habits and enables one to learn how to move in more efficient and safer patterns of motion, which is invaluable for injury recovery, sports performance, good posture and optimal health.
  This makes Pilates one of the safest and more efficient workouts on offer today.
  
  
• The practice of Pilates helps to release stress and improves the mind-body connection by emphasising proper breathing, correct spinal and pelvic alignment, and complete concentration on smooth, flowing movements. In addition, Pilates revitalises the spirit and increases one's self-esteem.
  
  
• Pilates benefits your emotional health by improving your mental outlook and increasing your motivation. Each workout will leave you feeling calm, balanced, and rejuvenated and its smooth, steady movements will quiet your mind and soothe your nervous system.
  
  
• Pilates is one of the safest workouts available, as many of its exercises are performed in reclining or sitting positions, and most are low-impact and partially weight bearing.
  No other exercise system provides such a great workout while being so gentle to the body. In fact the Pilates Method is nowadays being integrated into rehabilitation exercise and into physical therapy programs designed to speed recovery of soft tissue injuries.
  
  
• Pilates is also used for injury prevention and rehabilitation, as well as a treatment for afflictions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis and chronic fatigue syndrome. By increasing flexibility for stretches, Pilates reduces osteoarthritis pain and fatigue. It also helps to relieve aches and stiffness and eliminates tension, driving away headaches, backaches, neck aches, and other aches and pains.
  
  
• Pilates enables you to have a healthy, supple spine as its exercises give more support to your spine, creating space between each vertebra. That extra space creates more mobility and also makes you appear taller. This new suppleness helps you to move with more grace and ease and prevents degenerative spinal problems, such as slipped disks.
  
  
• By working and toning up the deep abdominal muscles, Pilates provides a fast return to pre-pregnancy figure achieving a flat lower tummy.
  
  

Who can do Pilates?

The Pilates Method is an exercise regime that benefits people of all fitness levels, and is especially useful for those recovering from orthopedic injuries. As it avoids any stress to your body, jarring or bouncing, it also offers the ideal form of exercise for people who, because of joint pain or muscle weakness, shy away from exercise.

Anyone can practice Pilates: people of all ages, from children to seniors, including athletes and fitness enthusiasts, as well as persons with specific medical conditions or injuries. In addition, everyone can achieve amazing results through its practice.
Nevertheless, in case you suffer from any injury or have special medical conditions, we do recommend you to consult with your doctor before you begin this Method or any fitness program.

The Pilates Method (specially Pilates MAT) is a very convenient form of exercise as there´s no need for any heavy, expensive equipment being able to practice it anywhere, anytime. However, in order to maximize Pilates benefits and avoid any injuries Pilates should be practised in a Pilates studio under the careful supervision of a certified Pilates instructor, either one-on-one or in small group sessions.
This is especially important when you are new to the Method as a good instructor will help you ensure that you have good form and are performing the exercises correctly which is the key of the success of its practice.

In order to to really see and feel the results quickly it´s recommended to do 2–3 sessions per week. Each session lasts approximately 1 hour. Within a few months of regular practice you will feel invigorated and rejuvenated, or, in Joseph Pilates words, "...active, alert and disciplined".