Practicing Pilates

At The Edge, we’re always looking for new ways to keep both our mind and body healthy, so when we heard about a pilates class at Elon, we just had to check it out. With the new free workout classes available in the Koury Center, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t go ahead and sign up. 

Pilates is a pretty low-impact exercise that strengthens muscles while improving flexibility and posture. While there are many different types of pilates you could try, we think mat and reformer pilates are your best bet. Mat pilates is done using just a yoga mat and focuses on core strength. This will help you improve your balance and manage your pain levels. Reformer Pilates is done using a machine with springs for extra resistance. This type of exercise can be challenging, but your routine can be customized to fit your practice level. The movement in reformer pilates is constant, enabling you to burn more calories and get a better sweat in. 

Pilates can also benefit your mind, as it forces you to be completely aware of what is going on in your body. It increases your self-control and initiates an awareness of your breathing. Like any exercise, pilates is also a great way to relieve stress and anxiety by focusing on the betterment of yourself.

When we attended our first reformer pilates class, we had no clue what to expect. But, with an encouraging instructor, we were able to get into the routine and figure out which exercises worked best for us. Whether you feel strong enough or not won’t affect your workout, as you’re able to completely adjust how much resistance you feel comfortable with. There’s no judgment about how skilled or flexible you look while going through a routine, as long as you’re challenging your body to grow.

If you’re interested in signing up for either a mat or reformer pilates workout class, you can sign up by downloading the IMLeagues app and choosing a group exercise class. If you fall in love with pilates like we did, let us know by tagging us on Instagram @theedgemag.