A short and spicy Pilates workout is one of my favourite ways to move. I first tried Pilates 10 years ago when I was rebuilding my relationship with exercise, (after some toxic years in the modelling industry), and after completely underestimating that Pilates burn—it quickly became my go-to movement.
Nowadays, I’m all about exercising in a way that makes me feel good, and Pilates does exactly that. Majority of my workouts are just 10-15 minute Kic Pilates flows, I love that they’re so easy to squeeze in whilst my son Harvey is still snoozing in the morning before work. And trust me, 15 minutes is all you need to feel the burn and get those enough to get the endorphins flowing!
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What Are the Benefits of Pilates?
Pilates is so amazing for not only the body but also the mind! Pilates is all about the mind-body connection which I love. Physically, Pilates is great for your posture, core strength, balance and flexibility. It’s the almost perfect addition to most workout styles to help reduce injury, and to lengthen and strengthen those muscles.
Pilates is not just about strength though, each movement requires concentration and mindfulness. Once you’re in tune with your body, you can perform exercises with focus and intention. When I roll out my mat for my Kic Pilates flow, I love how grounded and centred it makes me feel for the rest of my day. It’s particularly needed when I’m juggling getting my son Harvey ready in the morning and then heading into the office for a busy day at Kic HQ. Centering myself through my Pilates practice in the AM sets me up for the day better than any amount of coffee can do (Mums, IYKYK!).
Our Kic Pilates trainer, Mari Yammas, breaks down what ‘centering’ means and how it’s really more than a state of mind. Centering is also related to our core stability – which is what Pilates is all about! Mari says “‘Centering’ refers to having an awareness of our deepest stomach muscles, (as well as our deepest lower back muscles, and the pelvic floor), in order to support the body.” Centring goes hand in hand with the other major benefit of Pilates – Alignment! Alignment is all about finding your correct posture before starting any exercises to make sure you’re activating all your muscles in the right way. Mari explains that “Taking the time to correctly set up body alignment before moving your body, will mean you will be executing the exercise better, but the goal is also that you can take your ideal alignment with you when you are off the mat, in day to day life.”
In a nutshell, Pilates goes further than just the physical benefits, which is why I love it so damn much.
What Kind of Exercise Is Pilates?
By definition, Pilates is a low-intensity, muscle-strengthening workout that focuses mostly on strengthening your core and body through controlled and aligned movements. But Pilates can come in SO many different styles and types.
In your local Pilates studio, you may see options like reformer Pilates, hot mat, strength Pilates, and so much more. At Kic, we have Pilates ranging from 5-30 minute classes including traditional, mind & body, cardio, power, plus pre and post natal Pilates for all the mummas out there! There’s a style of Pilates for almost everyone, whether you crave the slow flow or an intense cardio burst.
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What Equipment Do You Need For Pilates?
Pilates is typically performed on a mat and uses minimal equipment for maximum performance. In Pilates your equipment (or what’s known as ‘props’) can include: Pilates ball, resistance bands, light dumbbells, sliders and sometimes a Pilates ring.
But at Kic, we’re all about at-home substitutes. Swap your Pilates ball for a small pillow, use tin cans or drink bottles instead of dumbbells, socks can help you slide and simply go without your resistance band.
That’s the beauty of Pilates, even with minimal equipment and time, you can feel the burn!
Unlock hundreds of Pilates classes with a 7-day free trial at www.kicapp.com.
