Warning: Pilates may cause serious strength gains and unexpected confidence boosts

Although Joseph Pilates began developing his Pilates method in the 1940s, it has surged in popularity over the last two decades. From your favourite Hollywood stars to super mums juggling a thousand things, and even sprightly seniors showing arthritis who’s boss, Pilates has everyone bending over backwards for its transformative magic!

But why is Pilates so powerful?

#1 Pilates strengthens your major stabilising muscles

Unlike many workouts, Pilates targets your deep stabilising muscles – the unsung heroes of movement. These muscles include not only your core but also the stabilisers in your upper body, shoulders, hips, pelvis, neck, and more. Stabilisers control your joints during movement, preventing excessive strain on surrounding structures. For example, in your lower back, core muscles reduce stress on sensitive structures such as discs and facet joints. By specifically strengthening these often-overlooked muscles, Pilates leads to long-term improvements in posture, balance, and pain reduction.

#2 Pilates matches the brain’s ideal learning style

Pilates isn’t just about lifting weights or memorising routines. It focuses on pushing or pulling against resistance, often on a reformer. This approach aligns with how your brain learns best:

• Task-oriented movements: Pilates exercises involve functional movements like pushing and pulling, activating all the muscles around a joint.
• Balance challenges: Many exercises incorporate balance, stimulating your brain to make corrections and remember them.
• Resistance training: The added load challenges your body to adapt and get stronger over time.

This combination makes Pilates highly effective for learning how to engage your stabilising muscles correctly, leading to better body awareness and control.

#3 Pilates builds a foundation for strength and conditioning

While Pilates alone may not suffice for achieving extensive fitness goals like marathon running or hiking up Mount Kilimanjaro, it forms an excellent foundation. For over two decades, I’ve witnessed how Pilates complements traditional strength training, creating a holistic approach to fitness. Rather than an “either-or” choice, integrating Pilates with classical strength and conditioning maximises outcomes, especially for goals like improving bone density.

Therefore, combining Pilates with strength training exercises such as deadlifts, squats, and bench press enhances overall strength and performance, while also reducing injury risks during heavier lifts.