Pilates is a form of exercise that has been around for a very long time. The sport is becoming increasingly popular among people looking for a low-impact workout. But does pilates actually fall under the category of strength training or not? We’ll find out.
What is pilates?
Pilates focuses on several things including mobility, stability, correct posture and the connection between your head and your muscles. This makes it a perfect workout for anyone who wants to get better at exercise. Pilates can use special machines that make the exercises more difficult, but you can also do it with body weight alone.
Does pilates count as strength training?
Some exercises that are done in strength training are also included in an average pilates class. Think of the plank, squats and lunges. So this could make you view pilates as a form of strength training, right? Yes, but we have a few caveats here. Strength training is intended to make you stronger, this is something you can also achieve with pilates. But strength training is usually about achieving your maximum strength, this is not necessarily the case with pilates. With pilates you perform slow, controlled movements. This means your muscles are under tension for longer. This allows you to build more endurance in your muscles than brute strength. This allows you, for example, to maintain a certain position for longer periods, but lift heavy weights.
Why pilates is so good for you
Pilates is very good to do. This way you train the muscles that support your joints. As you get older, you will benefit greatly from this. In addition, you build up more endurance and your body becomes better at performing daily movements. It is also good to do pilates in addition to any other sports you do. This allows you to maintain the strength you build and train the muscles that may be missed with your regular sport. Pilates can be done as a sport in itself, but it also compliments any other form of sport you can do. Taking a pilates class once in a while can never hurt. So we definitely recommend trying it out if you are curious about it. This is an ideal workout to do on days when you want to train less hard or when you are ready for something different.
