Five ways Pilates will enrich your Denver lifestyle

Commonly mistaken for yoga, Pilates is a very unique exercise method which focuses on core strength, muscle tone and body awareness.

Originally created by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century for rehabilitation purposes, pilates has transformed and is now extremely popular throughout fitness industry. Pilates has many benefits from enhancing sports performance to creating a long, lean body. Here are the top five reasons everyone enjoying the Denver lifestyle should be doing Pilates.

1. Decrease Stress/Improve Your Outlook on Life.

We all have stress and exercise is always the first choice to burn it off.  Pilates takes you out of the typical gym workout and creates an environment in which you will not only get an intense workout to decrease your stress level, but it will give you a long, lean body which will not only make you feel better about yourself, but with that new found confidence, will give you a more positive outlook on life.

2. Injury Prevention

Pilates is a rehabilitation tool used after an injury, for managing chronic pain, recovery from disc herniations and back/neck pain; but did you know Pilates can help prevent these issues?  When demand is put on a muscle (like running, weight lifting), small, stabilizing muscles must respond before the larger muscles contract in order to give the joints proper stability. Often times, these muscles are weak from lack of use or previous injuries, which can lead unnecessary stress on the joints. The focus of Pilates is on joint stability, proper movement, body awareness, and core strength.  All of these will create an environment for total, pain free function.

3. Sports Improvement

No matter what kind of athlete you are, professional or recreational, Pilates can help achieve optimal results. Whether you golf, ski, play tennis, run or are a bike rider, you probably have developed muscle imbalances due to the nature of the sport. Pilates works to balance the body and develop muscular symmetry to allow the release of overworked, tight muscles and strengthen weaker muscles. By balancing the body it will help to prevent injuries that might otherwise occur and improve overall strength and flexibility.

4. Weight Loss

Pilates is a powerful tool when it comes to weight loss. The focus on major muscle groups with slow intentional movements has made Pilates popular for those looking for a weight loss regimen. Many people successfully lose weight with Pilates because they become more aware of their bodies and are able to individualize movements for optimal strengthening and increased metabolism. Pilates combines cardiovascular and strength building exercises that allow the body to burn more calories while building long, lean muscles with reduced risk of injuries. One of the most exciting aspects of Pilates is that anyone can do it, and everyone can achieve amazing results in a small amount of time.

5. The Powerhouse

Every Pilates movement, when done correctly, starts in your core, stays in your core and ends in your core. Pilates refers to the core as the “Powerhouse” of the body, which it is. The benefits of core strength go way beyond flat abdominals, but it is the flat ab result of doing Pilates that help make it popular among a wide variety of people. Your core is made up of front and side abdominals as well as the muscles in your back. Pilates educates people how to use their abdominals correctly, which is one of the main reasons that Pilates flattens the abs so quickly. Having toned abs has many benefits from looking better to improved posture and reduced low back pain.

So whether you’re looking to avoid a knee injury while skiing or returning to an active lifestyle, Pilates is for anyone wanting a toned, pain free body.  At Firehaus Pilates, our certified instructors provide you with the tools needed to reach your personal fitness goals.  Small classes and one on one training sessions ensure your success.