The Benefits of Pilates for Women

Why exactly Pilates is good for women!

Pilates is not a new phenomenon. It was developed around 100 years ago to rehabilitate soldiers who were injured and bedridden during World War 1. It subsequently became popular with dancers, who sought to strengthen their bodies without risking injury. Today, it is one of the safest and most effective forms of exercise available, and is practised by nearly 1.25 million Australians. 

As a program, its benefits are many. The low-impact nature of the exercises makes them suitable for all shapes, sizes and levels of fitness and, because the techniques are designed to improve strength, flexibility, posture and mental awareness, Pilates is equally effective as a workout as it is in injury rehabilitation.

More than a million women in Australia currently practise Pilates. It’s great for increasing muscle strength without developing a Schwarzenegger-like physique, because Pilates is all about focusing on the smaller muscles that help with balance and core control, rather than those traditionally worked in a gym. 

Pilates also helps to improve strength, stability and posture. That’s especially important in helping to prevent lower back pain, something that afflicts just under 15% of women aged between 16 and 34, and 20% of women aged 35 to 44. The exercises focus on strengthening the core muscles—particularly the transverse abdominus and pelvic floor muscles—which are important for providing stability for your spine, pelvis and hips, and in allowing movement with much greater control and balance.

Strengthening the pelvic floor has an added benefit to women as it helps with bladder control, an issue that, according to the Continence Foundation of Australia, will affect one in three mothers. 

So there are plenty of reasons to give Pilates a go. Relinque Sports and Spinal Group has a modern, spacious and fully-equipped studio where you can increase your fitness and strength with the help of our experienced instructors. If you’re interested in learning more, contact us on  03 9499 9644!