For the uninitiated, Pilates is a low-impact, full-body workout focussing on slow, controlled movements aligned with breathwork, with a central tenet of core stability. Developed in the early 20th century by German boxer Joseph Pilates, it originally evolved as a form of rehabilitation for injured soldiers, before becoming popular with New York’s elite dancers and celebrities, spawning a worldwide movement that’s still going from strength to strength over 100 years later.
Here, we explore what toning actually means, what factors affect how toned we look and how Pilates can assist in reaching your goal of looking leaner.
An important fact to acknowledge is that you can’t lose fat from selected body parts. If you lose body fat, you will lose it all over.
Firstly, whilst Pilates does not use heavy loads there are many exercises which utilise resistance particularly if working with the large Pilates equipment.
Contact us today to schedule your first Pilates session and take ownership of your fitness, mobility, and overall well-being through the life-changing magic of Pilates!
During each Pilates session, our credentialed instructors guide you through a flowing sequence of controlled, deliberate movements coupled with deep breathing. The exercises focus on strengthening your core muscles while improving stability, mobility, and flexibility across your entire body.
One of the biggest advantages of Pilates is that it strengthens muscles without putting stress on the joints, making it a fantastic option for all fitness levels.
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.
Pilates is effective for toning muscles and improving overall body strength. While it primarily focuses on building lean muscle mass and enhancing posture, incorporating Pilates into a regular exercise routine can contribute to weight loss when combined with a balanced diet and cardiovascular activities.
In the world of medicine, great north pilates physiology and sports science there is actually no such term as ‘toned’ or ‘toning’. There is the concept of a muscle having a resting ‘tone’ but this has nothing to do with how you look or how strong you are.
Combined with a balanced lifestyle, Pilates is a smart, sustainable way to reshape how your body looks and feels.
Both methods work, but if you’re looking for faster toning results, the Reformer provides Em excesso resistance for deeper muscle engagement.
When people talk about wanting to get "toned," they’re usually looking for more muscle definition without added bulk. That look comes from building lean muscle while reducing body fat.
Achieving a toned appearance typically requires a combination of factors, including regular exercise that targets various muscle groups, a balanced diet to support muscle definition, and possibly incorporating cardiovascular activities for overall fat loss.