5 reasons Pilates helps you lift heavy weights
Lifting weights as part of your exercise routine can be tough. If you’re not strong in the core area of your body the aches and strains experienced after a workout can only get worse and could even lead to serious injuries. This is where the fitness method of Pilates can help.
1. You become more flexible
Your body is now able to handle more resistance. Being able to pull that bar all the way to your chest or do dips extending all the way to your shoulders are now so much easier.
2. You start using your core
Instead of huffing and puffing and using all your muscles to lift something, you will learn to lift from your core. This takes a lot of pressure off the rest of your body, especially your lower back. Lots of people use their lower backs to lift, potentially putting themselves at risk of long-term damage.
3. You improve your breathing
This might not sound like a big deal, but when you have 350 pounds on top of your shoulders, you realise how important it is to breath naturally in through your nose and out through your mouth. By improving your breathing pattern you’ll also destress yourself a lot more while trying to lift those heavy weights.
4. There’s less chance of getting an injury
This is probably the most important. With your body being completely loose, there’s a lot less chance of anything tightening up and putting you completely out of action. There’s nothing more frustrating than being injured for a long period of tim, knowing that it could easily have been avoided, especially when you’re an avid gym goer.
5. It works your whole body
The benefits of finding exercises and stretches that work the whole body are second to none. When it comes to stretching, a lot of people will stretch for five seconds here and 10 seconds there on various body parts. A simple, 20 minute Pilates session can focus on your whole body, meaning that you are a lot less vulnerable in certain areas.
