Pilates Will Change the Way You Think of Exercise
You’ve tried running, cycling, and old school aerobics. These cardio exercises are great for torching calories and shedding some weight. The problem is that they are exhausting, and difficult on the joints. You have heard people mention Pilates as a good form of exercise, but you feel like it won’t give you an adequate workout. After all, if you are not sweating profusely, and ready to pass out after 30 minutes of exercise, you are not working hard enough, right? Wrong. Pilates is fitness’ best kept secret.
Let’s start off with the obvious. Ballerina’s do Pilates. Have you ever seen a ballerina who does not have a rock solid body? Me either. That should be proof enough of its effectiveness. But in case it is not, let’s talk a little bit about why Pilates is so effective for slimming and toning the body.
First, using small movements to work the smaller muscles to the point of exhaustion actually helps with weight loss. Pilates will tax the muscles, causing an increase calorie burn. An added bonus is that you will continue to burn calories throughout the day. Can’t say this for cardio exercise, where you burn a bunch of calories, but then your metabolic rate returns to normal within an hour or so.
Secondly, if you want a toned body, there is nothing quite like Pilates. Again, think about a ballerina. The best part is, you don’t have to use any weights. Pilates uses the force of your own body to act as resistance to target small muscles, which will in turn tone your entire body. All you need is a chair for balance and you are ready to go.
You don’t have to do heavy lifting or extensive cardio to get results. Pilates is one of the best ways to get a really great, low impact workout. Doing Pilates for 20 minutes, three to five days a week, along with healthy eating will help you drop dress sizes in no time.