The thought of using weights often conjures up a vision of bulky guys weightlifting in the gym (in the days when gyms were open!). But the reality could not be further away from this image. Incorporating weights into your Pilates classes offers many benefits, from helping you get a slim, toned body to keeping fat at bay.
Don’t worry, you won’t get huge biceps or enormous muscular thighs by adding a few weights to your regular Pilates workout. Research shows that only two strength-training sessions a week can help you burn more fat, sculpt lean muscles, feel more energised, and much more.
There are benefits that you can’t get from cardiovascular exercise alone. In a 30 minute cardio workout you might immediately burn more calories, but in the long run you will burn more calories by using weights. Strength training builds muscle and your body consumes more calories as energy to maintain muscle cells than fat cells. Therefore, by using weights to increase your muscle mass, you’re increasing your metabolism and helping your body burn fat more efficiently
There’s also lots of compelling evidence to show that between the ages of 30 and 70, women lose an average of 22% of their muscle mass. Even more worrying is that this muscle loss is usually replaced with fat. A pound of fat takes more space than a pound of muscle, so even if your weight doesn’t change, your waistline may expand.
Using weights in your Pilates session doesn’t only build strength, it also helps maintain a healthy cardiovascular system. As the muscles contract, blood is pumped to the heart, and oxygenated blood is circulated back to the muscles. It will also help strengthen your bones, connective tissue, and joints, which reduces the chance of injury as well as preventing osteoporosis.
So, there are many benefits of adding weights to your Pilates practice, you’ll soon start to reap the rewards of a stronger, toned body.
See you on the mat.
Jo
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