What Does Pilates Do for the Body?

16 Dec 2024

What is Pilates?

Pilates was created by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century. He was a gymnast and boxer from Germany and developed the discipline to help alleviate his own health issues. The building blocks of pilates can be traced back to yoga, ballet and callisthenics.

The practice of Pilates revolves around approximately 50 repetitive exercises that are designed to encourage muscle exertion. Each exercise has an assigned placement, breathing pattern and rhythm and is grounded in these five elements:
 

• Breath
• Cervical alignment
• Rib and scapular stabilisation
• Pelvic mobility
• Utilisation of the transversus abdominis (or “abs”)

Pilates is both a physical and mental discipline. Because the movements are very precise, concentration is key, while breath work plays an important role in promoting balance and intentionality. As a result, Pilates also has a strong meditative quality. 

The Benefits of Pilates at Work

1. Better Posture and Pain Reduction

It’s no secret that sitting at a desk all day often leads to poor posture, which can in turn cause back and neck pain. By strengthening the core, Pilates is a great way to target and strengthen the muscles that are responsible for establishing and maintaining good posture. This makes it possible to sit and stand taller without slouching.

2. Improved Mental Wellbeing

As a true mind-body activity, Pilates is about mental wellbeing as much as physical strength and mobility. Through its emphasis on breath work and concentration, Pilates is ultimately a form of mindful meditation, helping you get out of your head and into your body. This can result in improved mood, stress reduction and better focus. 

Furthermore, Pilates can help relieve the sense of fatigue that often accompanies desk work. By engaging your muscles and promoting oxygen and blood flow, it can restore your energy and make you feel less tired. Even Pilates at your desk can be a great way to overcome the afternoon slump without having to rely on another cup of coffee.

3. Enhanced Strength and Flexibility

Practising Pilates at work is an excellent way to strengthen and tone your core and ensure balanced muscular strength on each side of your body. It also promotes movement in a work setting that can otherwise be quite sedentary. Together, these factors can help reduce the impact of lower back pain, which is unfortunately quite common in seated office environments.

A lack of physical activity at work can also lead to tight muscles and a limited range of movement. This is particularly true for hip flexors and hamstrings, which spend the majority of the day shut down for seated staff. Pilates is a great way to loosen these muscles and improve your range of motion.

Want to learn more about Pilates? Read our previous blog on Pilates and weight loss.

4. Corporate Pilates with On-site Stress Management

Investing in Corporate Pilates classes benefits not only your team but also your business. By encouraging physical and mental wellbeing in the workplace, you’re nurturing a culture where staff feel supported and energised. As a result, they’re more likely to put their best foot forward when attending to their work responsibilities and may even feel better prepared to tackle stressful or challenging tasks.

At On-site Stress Management, we specialise in creating tailor-made wellness programs for your team. Corporate Pilates classes tend to run for 45-60 minutes and are always led by one of our fully qualified instructors.

Want to learn more? Get in contact today.

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