For the uninitiated, Pilates is a low-impact, full-body workout focussing on slow, controlled movements aligned with breathwork, with a central tenet of core stability. Developed in the early 20th century by German boxer Joseph Pilates, it originally evolved as a form of rehabilitation for injured soldiers, before becoming popular with New York’s elite dancers and celebrities, spawning a worldwide movement that’s still going from strength to strength over 100 years later.
What people often refer to as “toning” is actually a combination of building muscle and reducing body fat to give the appearance of more defined muscles.
Visible muscle tone comes from both building lean muscle and reducing body fat. Pilates alone may not be the most efficient path to fat loss, but it prepares the body for higher-intensity exercise and supports better movement patterns. For optimal toning, Pilates works best alongside cardiovascular exercise and dietary changes.
Pilates is popular for its ability to sculpt and tone the body. Emphasizing controlled movements, core strength, and flexibility provides an effective approach to achieving a toned physique.
After graduating from The Citadel, I began working with middle and high school football teams to develop functional strength and conditioning programs. Soon after, I began coaching amateur and professional MMA athletes.
We are more than happy to help anyone and point you in the right direction. Our biggest belief is that education is key. The more you understand about your injury, illness and movement, the more you are likely to improve.
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.
Kick up the fun and jump with us! This Reformer workout takes flight with the Jumpboard, actively building strength, cardio fitness, and power. We take jumping from vertical to horizontal, effectively reducing the impact while enjoying all the benefits.
Limited variety of exercises compared to the gym which reduces the ability to progressively overload the exercise. Progressive overload is one of the critical components of gaining muscle mass.
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 is great for improving general body awareness and this is helpful for improving your form and technique when you are doing other types of exercise.
My shoulder was dislocated and ultimately, surgically repaired. I’ve been told that rehab for a shoulder is the worst part, but Dr. Jenna Smiith has made the whole process bearable. She measures progress every visit and tailors the stretches and exercises to my individual performance, or lack of. Her enthusiasm is contagious and helps to motivate me to do the stretches every day, and usually a couple of times per day. She spends time and studies how I’m moving and adjusts each stretch to maximize my efforts.
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.
Being more aware of yoga grand haven mi your body lets you use the right muscles during workouts, which makes them more effective and makes sure your body is working well to tone and shape.