Ten reasons to fall in love with Pilates

1. You can achieve super fast results. With effective practice, ideally several times a week, you will see and feel the benefit throughout your whole body within just a few sessions. I have had clients say they have found relief from non-specific, but persistent, back pain after just a handful of weekly sessions.

2. It is incredibly versatile. When many people think of Pilates they think of the 34 original matwork exercises documented in Joseph Pilates’ groundbreaking book “Return to Life through Contrology”. But the Pilates method incorporates so much more. Pilates invented several key pieces of equipment to help clients develop the skills needed to perform his mat exercises effectively and experience the benefits in their body: the Reformer, Chair, Cadillac/ Trapeze Table, along with many smaller pieces. Overall there are more than 500 exercises designed to challenge every part of the body.

3. You leave every class feeling longer, leaner and more toned throughout your whole body. We focus on building long, supple muscles that support every joint in our body to achieve healthier and more natural movement.

4. You learn to breathe better. You might think you’re pretty good at breathing already given that you do it every second of your life without thinking, but learning how to breathe more efficiently during exercise can help alleviate back and neck pain, prevent early fatigue or muscle tension which in turn can improve performance.

5. You will explore new ways that you can move your body. This can not only help alleviate unnecessary tension, and possibly pain, in the body but also give you more confidence as you recognise your body's potential.

6. It’s easy to fit around your other passions. If you are looking for strength and flexibility training that won’t leave you feeling too exhausted for other activities you love then Pilates is perfect. You should never work to the point of fatigue in a session and should always leave feeling more energised than when you started.

7. It's great for your mental health. A Pilates workout demands that you are wholly focused on your movement which means you have stay completely in the moment. However long your workout is it's time away from your worries, lowering stress hormones and giving you time to breathe, all of which make a dramatic difference to our mental health.

8. You will never stop learning about your amazing body! With some exercise activities, such as running or swimming, we might enjoy “switching off” whilst we’re doing them, letting our mind wander to other things. This can be great for relaxation but it doesn’t help us to learn how to use our body more effectively. In every Pilates workout we are constantly observing our body and learning about its strengths and weaknesses that we can better balance to become healthier.

9. You can do the matwork wherever you are! Once you are familiar with the exercises you can get a great workout in just 30 minutes at home. It’s also great for taking on holiday, just 10 minutes every day you’re away will help you maintain your strength and means you avoid that feeling of starting again when you come home.

10. You can do it for the whole of your life! Joseph Pilates lived and continued teaching into his mid-80s, his partner Clara lived until she was 95. It cannot be a coincidence that all of the first generation teachers credited with continuing Joe’s work lived into their late 80s at a time when life expectancy in the US was only around 68 years. Maybe those of us practicing now might live into our 100s!