Whilst Pilates isn’t so good at building muscle bulk or power, what it is great at is utilising your postural muscles. These are deep muscles that tend to be closer to the skeleton that hold us up against gravity and provide stability around the joints whilst we are moving.
Through focused exercises like leg lifts, planks, or movements on the Reformer, these muscles are activated and trained to support you in everyday movement.
Trainers will use their best knowledge of not only Pilates, but other mind/body disciplines like Suspension Training, Rebounding and Neurology applied to movement to help restore natural movement and allow you to perform to the best of your potential!
So, instead of making you bulkier, Pilates tones your body by building lean, functional muscle and improving the overall shape of your body.
Pilates is a great way to tone your body, improve your posture, and feel better overall. It's a way to get fit that works and makes you think about what you're doing.
So, how does it actually reshape the body? And how long does it take to see results? Let’s dive into the science behind it.
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Eccentric movements occur when muscles lengthen under tension, like when lowering your body in a controlled way from a bridge position. Research shows that eccentric training creates more muscle definition and strength gains compared to concentric movements.
Similar to the one-on-one, the instructor is still able to give focused corrections. It can also be a fun way to practice with a friend, and can be scheduled according to your needs.
Over time, this can absolutely lead to a more toned appearance — especially when paired with healthy habits outside the studio.
Lengthening and Strengthening: The goal of Pilates is to make muscles longer and stronger at the same time. This helps give people who do it regularly that long, lean, and toned look. It builds muscle endurance and makes your body look balanced instead reformer pilates grand rapids of just building muscle mass on its own.
Integrate the Exo Chair with the Reformer for an advanced-level workout to build strength and balance in a new, dynamic way.
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s talk about Pilates and how it fits into this equation.
Exhale and circle your arms around to grasp your shins again, drawing your knees back into your chest.