Pilates has been very popular throughout the years with a wide range of people. Pilates offers a fun, low-impact exercise and fitness workout that helps tone muscles and build strength without bulky muscles.

Our Top Five Ways That Pilates Can Improve Your Health

1. Pilates exercises build your core and back

Pilates exercises are great exercises to build and increase a person's core abdominal and low back muscle strength. The improvement in the strength and coordination of the core muscles in Pilates can help prevent low back injuries or improve chronic low back pain due to poor posture. Staying pain-free is a key healthy component to staying fit and active.

2. Pilates can help reduce stress and promote relaxation

One part of Pilates focuses on learning proper breathing techniques with deep and relaxing inhalations. The focus of Pilates on this type of breathing can help promote relaxation and decrease the amount of stress a person feels. This reduction of stress can help decrease certain risk factors for certain health problems.

3. Pilates can improve muscle tone and strength without muscle bulk

Regular Pilates classes can help develop that lean, toned and fit look that many of us want to have but struggle with. Pilates can help your muscles become fit and well-toned without the added musclee bulk because many of the exercises are done with your own body weight or assisted with various Pilates equipment.

4. Pilates Improves Your Mind-Body-Spirit Connection

Pilates also helps develop a strong connection between your body (muscles) and your mind by focusing on experiencing the flow of energy with each movement. This "mind-body" awareness helps improve your body's ability to connect with the mind.

5. Pilates Prevents  Injuries

Pilates workouts can help improve your balance, core strength and fitness, all important pieces to avoiding developing an injury due to poor posture, tight muscles or a fall. One major benefit of Pilates is that Pilates develops "functional" or whole body strength and doesn't focus on just a limited number of muscle groups. This "whole body" focus in Pilates prevents muscle imbalances and reduces injuries.