51 Amazing Pilates Facts That Will Inspire You To Workout

If you're looking for a new way to get in shape, look no further than Pilates.

This unique workout has been gaining popularity over the past few years, and for good reasons! Pilates is an amazing way to tone your body and improve your overall fitness.

Often Pilates is confused as a part of ancient Hindu practice called yoga. However, they are different. The latter one was created in the '20s by Joseph Pilates. In this article, we will discuss 51 amazing facts about Pilates that will inspire you to give it a try!

Origin Of Pilates

It was originally developed as an aid to rehabilitating soldiers after World War I. Pilates focuses on strength training, balance, and flexibility through low-impact resistance training exercises that work your core muscles while also improving posture.

The benefits are not limited solely to improved fitness but include increased mental clarity, relaxation, and stress reduction because it forces you to focus on breathing properly instead of just moving around all day long!

So, let's see some interesting facts on the origin of this brilliant exercise system.

Joseph Pilates, the inventor of this exercise method, was interested in physical exercise that can help people deal with various ailments including asthma, as he had a frail and weak body in his childhood.

When he first developed this exercise method, it was intended to help the WWI soldiers recover their injuries. Joseph himself was a professional boxer and personal trainer.

It is also believed that he created Pilates in Germany and used it to get healthier and stronger as a war prisoner. Later in 1925, he emigrated to the United States.

Initially, this set of exercises was known as Contrology.

In its early form, Pilates only focused on mat work. Later, the inventor introduced the first Pilates equipment called the Magic Circle.

The Magic Circle was a steel band wrapped around beer kegs that were employed for different exercises.

The term 'Contrology' refers to the function of these exercises, which is to control certain muscle groups of the body.

Joseph Pilates's original creation, Mat Pilates, had 34 sequences. Over the years, other forms of Pilates were introduced.

Even though Pilates and yoga are different from each other, some similarities tend to confuse people. For example, the open leg balance has a similar appearance to the navasana in yoga, and the roll-over exercise is much similar to halasana.

The main differences include the focus of these separate sets of exercises. While Pilates focuses on developing core strength, yoga focuses on flexibility and emphasizes its spiritual aspects.

Apart from that, both these schools have separate sources of their origin. For example, the inspiration behind the invention of this set of exercises, unlike yoga, did not come from ancient India rather from ancient Greek.

Joseph Pilates's main intention was to focus on the balance between a person's body, mind, and spirit as was described by the ancient Greek philosophers.

When Pilates was invented it was meant for everyone irrespective of age and gender. So, even though today the media tends to portray only women practicing Pilates, it doesn't imply that these exercises are only suitable for women.

Pilates also wrote two books on Contrology. The first one, 'Your Health: A Corrective System of Exercising That Revolutionizes the Entire Field of Physical Education,' came out in 1934. The second book, 'Return to Life Through Contrology,' was published in 1945.

It is estimated that 11 million Americans practice Pilates every day, and 14,000 Pilates instructors daily help them.

Different Exercise In Pilates

Developed in the '20s by Joseph Pilates, almost all Pilates exercises are usually performed in a slow and controlled manner. This is what makes it so unique, you can focus on your muscles and how they're working.

This also minimizes the risk of injury. Pilates is great for all fitness levels, from beginners to experienced athletes. So, let's see what are the different exercises in Pilates.

The first exercise only requires breathing. You need to lie on your back, bend your knees, and put your hands on your rib cage. Now, breathe through your nose and let the air touch your hands.

The second one is called shoulder bridge Pilates and can be performed by beginners. It focuses on hamstrings, glutes, pelvic floor, inner thighs, and back muscles.

The third one is called leg lifts. The focus here is on the back and transverse abdominis (the deepest abdominal muscles). Beginners can do this exercise.

The next one is toe taps, and it focuses mainly on hip extensors and abdominals. It can also be performed by beginners.

Single leg stretch is a bit challenging. The main focus here is on back abdominals, and hip extensors.

The next one, one leg circle, is one of the most popular mat exercises. This exercise can be performed by beginners. It focuses on hamstrings, abdominals, hip flexors, hip abductors, and adductors.

Side bend preparation comes next. Beginners can face a bit of difficulty while practicing this. It focuses on obliques and shoulder girdle stabilizers.

Sidekick is also a bit challenging, as it requires balance. Its main focus is on flexors, abdominals, and hip extensors.

Side leg lifts, perhaps one of the toughest mat exercises, it focuses mainly on obliques, inner thighs, and back.

The next one is swan dive. It focuses on abdominals, back extensors, and hip extensors and can be performed by beginners.

Another challenging one is bird dog or swimming preparation. It focuses on back extensors, hip extensors, and abdominals.

Beginners can easily perform leg pull front Prep. It focuses on the pelvic floor, arms, abdominals.

The next one on the list is the roll down. The main focus here is on abdominals and back extensors.

Crisscross requires a lot of balance and is very challenging. It focuses on hip extensors and obliques.

The last one on this list is the plank. It is an intermediate-level exercise and focuses mainly on abdominals, legs, and shoulder girdle stabilizers.

Most of the abovementioned exercises can be performed as mat pilates and also with exercise bands.

Health Benefits Of Pilates

Joseph Pilates developed this workout routine with the intention of improving physical fitness, balance, and flexibility. There are also other benefits, like relaxation and mental clarity, that you can achieve through these exercises. So let's see how Pilates helps us lead a better life.

As yoga focuses mainly on flexibility, similarly, the main focus of Pilates is on the core. The core muscles are situated in the center of the body, and from them, all movements of the body stem. Thus the primary function of pilates is to strengthen the core.

Pilates helps to improve your posture and protects you from imbalanced, weak muscles, headaches, back pain, and shoulder pain.

Both rigid and weak muscles are prone to injuries. Pilates balances the body muscles in such a way that they are neither too rigid and tight, nor too weak and loose. Thus, it reduces the chances of you getting an injury.

By improving your cardiorespiratory capacity, Pilates increases your energy. It also stimulates oxygen flow, blood circulation, and feel-good hormones.

By performing Pilates you can improve your body awareness or proprioception. It improves your sensations and responsive ability.

Like, yoga, Pilates also reduces stress by improving the nervous system.

It has been suggested by many research that Pilates can be really helpful during dysmenorrhea.

One Pilates session every week can improve your flexibility and mobility.

Lack of balance can be catastrophic to anyone irrespective of age and gender. Almost all our daily chores require a good balance of our bodies. Pilates is known for working on that through its focus on core strengthening and full-body workout.

Early research on the benefits of Pilates showed that it can boost the immune system in the elderly. But recent studies say that it can be equally effective in children and young adults.

Again, like yoga, Pilates can improve your cognitive functioning, consolidate your memory, and thinking ability.

All benefits that you receive from practicing Pilates add up to increasing your motivation. It has been truly helpful to students.

It is also known for enhancing sports performance by improving flexibility and strengthening the core. That's why we see many celebrities related to sports take Pilates classes.

Studies say that taking one Pilates class every week can help one fight bone diseases like osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. It also develops lean muscle.

Did you know you can get better sleep at night by performing Pilates? Yes, many studies have shown this result.

Precautions To Take While Doing Pilates

One thing that applies to all kinds of exercises is that you must take the required precautions to avoid unnecessary injuries or some other complications. There are also some precautions for practicing Pilates especially if you have preexisting back problems or other health issues with your muscles and bones.

So, let's see how you can practice Pilates in a completely safe way.

You should always carry and bring your mat to the studio. It will keep you safe from the risk of getting infections. Also, you should sanitize all exercise equipment before using them.

Always go slow while trying out a new exercise, especially the last movement.

It is said that during weather changes some people feel dizzy while working out. If that ever happens to you, inform your teacher and follow their instructions.

If you have heart disease or any other ailments, consult your doctor before taking the classes.

The same is applicable if you are pregnant or have recently undergone surgery. It is always better to know whether you are fit for taking Pilates classes.

FAQs

What are the main benefits of Pilates?

It strengthens the core, improves physical health, and increases flexibility.

What century was Pilates created in?

It was invented in the 20th century, the '20s to be precise.

Does Pilates count as exercise?

Yes, you can consider them as a set of exercises or also as a discipline.

Is Pilates still popular?

Of course, now it is popular more than ever. More than 11 million Americans practice Pilates (including equipment and mat exercises) every day.

Who can do Pilates?

Anyone, irrespective of age and gender, who wants to improve their physical fitness can practice Pilates.

Where did Pilates come from?

It came from Germany.

How many Pilates exercises are there?

There are a total of 34 mat exercises described by the creator Joseph Pilates.

What was the original name of Pilates?

Initially, Pilates was known as Contrology.

What are the six principles of Pilates?

The six principles of Pilates are control, concentration, flow, center, breathing, and precision.

What came first, yoga or Pilates?

Yoga came first with its origin dating back to almost 5,000 years.

What is the most basic Pilates move?

Shoulder Bridge Preparation and Plank are considered to be the most basic moves.

Can Pilates make you taller?

No. It can make you look taller by improving your posture, but it won't give you an extra inch.

What is the Pilates machine called?

It is called the Pilates reformer.

Does Pilates burn calories?

Absolutely yes. It is resistance training that burns calories and develops lean muscle.