Incorporating cardio exercises into your routine, along with Pilates, can help support your fitness goals for a leaner and toned physique.
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.
Pilates can help build lean muscle mass, but if it’s covered by excess body fat, those defined muscles won’t be as visible.
I attended The Citadel in Charleston, S.C. on a full football scholarship. I was introduced to boxing while attending The Citadel, both sports allowed me to experience the camaraderie of a successful team atmosphere and the challenges of an individual combat sport.
Exercises like the plank and teaser force muscles to contract without movement, which builds strength and definition.
Start to spin the tailbone up to the sky and peel each vertebra off the mat until the hips are lifted in line with the lower ribs. Articulate the spine back down to the mat.
If you’re new to Pilates, aim for 2-3 times a week to start and gradually increase as you become more comfortable with the exercises (5). If you have specific areas of your body that you want to tone, consider targeting those muscles more frequently within your weekly routine.
Our instructors incorporate targeted stretches and full-range movements designed to lengthen tight muscles and enhance joint mobility. Proper stretching keeps muscles pliable and joints fluid, reducing stiffness and risk of strains or sprains. Consistent Pilates helps reopen tight hips, improve hamstring and lower back flexibility, and restore mobility for increased agility and ease of motion.
Poor posture from sitting, slouching, and repetitive movements plagued most of our clients. Pilates re-patterns your posture by activating key muscle groups while ensuring proper spinal alignment. Our instructors manually cue proper alignment and teach you to be more mindful of your movements.
Pilates can be a valuable tool in this journey towards toned muscles, as it helps build muscle mass and can improve overall body strength.
The truth is, neither approach is automatically “better” for toning. What matters most the body house is how you’re practicing: the quality of movement, consistency over time, and the level of challenge being applied.
At Vitality At Home in Grand Rapids, our Pilates program welcomes adults hoping to regain or improve their active lifestyle after injury or hiatus. We offer personalized attention from certified instructors in a supportive, upscale environment conducive to holistic healing.
Exhale and circle your arms around to grasp your shins again, drawing your knees back into your chest.