Whilst Pilates isn’t so good at building muscle bulk or power, what it is great at is utilising your postural muscles. These are deep muscles that tend to be closer to the skeleton that hold us up against gravity and provide stability around the joints whilst we are moving.
Another way that Pilates may help you to have the appearance of becoming more toned is by improving the way that you carry yourself. As you become more aware of your body you may naturally alter your posture to look longer and leaner.
The most recent addition to my training repertoire is Yoga. There are many styles and lineages of Yoga that are beneficial to both the human body and the human experience. I have focused my practice on The Baron Baptiste Vinyasa style and decided to take the next step and complete his 200 RYT in February of 2019.
Many people find the best results come from a mix of both, which is why The Pilates Circuit incorporates both Reformer and bodyweight-based movement into personalized training plans.
We’re often asked, ‘Does Pilates tone your body?’. If your primary goal is to tone your body, Pilates can certainly be an important part of your exercise and health routine.
“A Pilates practice requires so much focus that it can completely take you away from the stresses and strains of daily life,” advises Folkard, “which gives it a
Mat Pilates, on the other lifestyle pilates hand, relies entirely on bodyweight and gravity. While it might seem less intense at first, it's highly effective when performed with control and consistency. Because there’s no external resistance, mat workouts often demand more from your stabilizing muscles, which can improve functional strength and endurance.
With this in mind, we’ve taken a deep dive into the benefits of Pilates according to top instructors and taken a look at their favourite workouts that (among other wonderful things) can help boost tone.
Tone refers to the amount of tension in a muscle at rest. Resting muscle tone is a spectrum and very high or very low muscle tone could be problematic as in the medical world it could indicate a problem with the brain and nervous system. This is quite different to the concept of tone when we are thinking about exercise and aesthetics.
Ultimately, finding what works best for your body and lifestyle is key – whether that’s Pilates or the gym or a combination of both.
This includes eccentric training, which lengthens and strengthens muscles without adding bulk. Improved body awareness and alignment also contribute to a leaner, more upright look.
While studying and developing functional strength methodologies, I was introduced to The Pilates Method. This was a truly eye-opening experience. After a couple of months of working with a classical Pilates teacher, I was amazed at how my body felt, looked, and responded to all other activities.
Pilates boosts metabolism and builds lean muscle, which increases caloric burn even at rest. While it’s not as intense as HIIT or weightlifting, combining Pilates with a healthy diet can help shape a leaner physique.
Being aware of and in control of your body: Pilates focuses on the mind-body connection, which helps you learn how to move more precisely and with more control.