Have you been thinking of trying Pilates in Oakland, California? There are lots of reasons you should give this type of workout a try. Pilates was created by Joseph Pilates, and it concentrates on working the core muscles of the body. It does this by encouraging people to focus on aligning the body properly as they move, breathing and lengthening the body. Pilates also provides several specific benefits:
- Correcting posture
The amount of sitting that many of us do every day can lead to a weakened core. The core muscles are supposed to support the spine and pelvis, but it’s harder for them to do their job in a weakened state. This means that your spine and pelvis can be put into postures that aren’t ideal. Just think about the way many people slump forward over their computer or phone, and you’ll have an idea of the type of poor posture a weak core can cause. Pilates involves movements designed to increase the strength of your core. As a result of strengthening your core, this workout discipline can also help correct poor posture, and it can make it easier to maintain correct posture throughout the day.
- Improving balance
Still not convinced that Pilates could be good for you? That’s OK. You might change your mind when you hear that it can help improve your balance. Muscles and joints are a major part of your ability to balance as you move or when you’re standing still. As the body ages, these structures can become weaker and harder to move, and this can decrease your ability to maintain your balance. By strengthening the core and other muscles, Pilates can help give your body back its ability to balance. This is because stronger muscles offer more support to your joints, and they can also respond more quickly when you feel like you’re losing your balance.
- Increasing flexibility
Another thing that Pilates is good for is increasing your flexibility. You may think flexibility is all about your ability to bend, and this is definitely a major part of being flexible. However, flexibility is also about having muscles that aren’t constantly painful or tense. Pilates is good at helping you become more flexible because it focuses on lengthening the body’s muscles. Essentially, it’s the opposite of the bulking and shortening that traditional strength training can lead to. The lengthening movements of Pilates help stretch the muscles, and they also help tone them and increase the overall mobility of the body.
You can start getting the benefits of Pilates at SOL Physical Therapy in Oakland, CA
SOL Physical Therapy has a clinic in Oakland that can help people treat their injuries and medical conditions.In addition, we offer performance training services that can help you meet your health and fitness goals. For example, we offer Pilates sessions by appointment, and you can find other services here that can boost your fitness, including:
- Recovery compression boot therapy
- Nutrition programs
- Kinesio Taping®
- Personal training
- Small-group fitness classes
Are you ready to get our help to make meeting your fitness goals easier? Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an appointment.
