Whether you are a runner looking to protect yourself from injury, an elite athlete, a weightlifter or just someone looking to improve health and strength; you’ve likely heard about the importance of strength training as part of your exercise regime.
So does Pilates count as strength-training? The answer is yes and no depending on your goal. What kind of strength are you looking to build?
Self.com made this interesting observation about Pilates in a recent online article:
“it’s all about performing slow, controlled movements – which increases the time your muscles are under tension – you boost your muscular endurance rather than really improving on maximal strength… As a result, you train your muscles to be able to work for longer and get a whole lot done without having to lift really heavy loads.
So depending on your baseline, Pilates can check the box as your ‘strength’ workout if you’re looking for muscular endurance instead of max force production and power; it can also pair really well with a more traditional weightlifting routine since it helps build super comprehensive functional strength and focuses on stabilizing muscles that heavy lifting sometimes overlooks.”
The takeaway…don’t overlook the power of Pilates. We think of it often as a way to lengthen and tone the muscles, increase flexibility of the spine; but it can also help you to gain a measure of muscular strength and endurance as well.
Happy Pilates!!!
Link to full article: https://www.self.com/story/does-pilates-count-as-strength-training
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