4 Reasons to Take Pilates (and 2 Reasons to Avoid It) | Pilates Pros & Cons

Pilates has been around for decades, but it seems to get increasingly popular each and every year. With more and more people working out at home with minimal equipment, the low impact strength training of pilates has seen its appeal rise dramatically.

If you don’t know much about pilates, well, it’s a lot like yoga, only with less spirituality and more work on your core and overall strength and muscle tone. So it’s easy to see why so many people are in love with pilates.

But for all the benefits, it does have a few drawbacks as well. So is pilates the right workout for you? Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of pilates.

PRO - No equipment necessary

You don’t need much of anything to get started with pilates at home.

You can find plenty of free workouts to try on YouTube, and for most of them all you’ll need is a simple yoga mat.

You’d be surprised how challenging some of the seemingly simple bodyweight moves are to perform properly, and how good of a workout you can get without even a single dumbbell.

Eventually, you might want to try pilates on the reformer at a local studio — the reformer is a piece of equipment that opens up a whole new world of movements when you’re ready for them. You can also increase the variety and intensity of your workouts with exercise balls and other simple props, but none of them are necessary as a beginner.

PRO - A low impact workout

If you’re a beginner just getting started with an exercise program for the first time, it’s a good idea to stick with low impact workouts.

Pilates focuses on gently stretching and strengthening your muscles through slow, controlled movements. Unlike high intensity interval training or running, it’s pretty gentle on your knees and other joints.

Research has shown that doing pilates can even ease pain from arthritis and fibromyalgia. It can also help manage back pain because it strengthens the core muscles that provide support for your spine.

PRO - Excellent strength & core workout

Although pilates is a relatively low-impact workout, that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

Your muscles, and your abs in particular, will feel the burn by the time you’re done.

Most classic pilates moves target your abdominal muscles, and if it’s a strong core you want, studies show that doing pilates is far more effective than your usual crunches and sit ups.

Your hips, pelvis, butt, back, and even upper body will get the same treatment.

The moves look simple from the outside, but a pilates class is actually an incredible full body strength workout.

PRO - Improves balance, flexibility & posture

Pilates doesn’t just strengthen your muscles—it also stretches them, which helps promote better mobility.

A recent study showed that practicing pilates for just eight weeks can drastically increase your flexibility. The study also found that pilates improves static balance, which is your ability to hold yourself in place in certain positions.

These benefits carry over to the real world, where your increased flexibility and core strength can ultimately lead to better posture and fewer mysterious aches and pains.

CON - Not a heart pumping workout

Pilates is a fairly intense full-body workout, but it’s mostly focused on strengthening your muscles.

It won’t elevate your heart rate as much as cardio work like running or cycling, so it’s not the best pick for conditioning training.

It’s also not a top calorie burner, with an hour long class burning just 218 calories or so.

If weight loss is your goal and you can only make time for a few workouts per week, you may want to find a workout that burns more calories. However, the strength component of pilates makes it an excellent companion to regular cardio and healthy eating.

CON - Strength benefits have a ceiling

Pilates is great for strengthening your core and giving you a more toned, athletic look.

But its strength benefits do have a limit. Since most of the movements in class utilize your own bodyweight, you’ll eventually run out of ways to add resistance and difficulty to the movements.

Don’t worry — pilates takes a lifetime to master and there are always new challenges to conquer, but if you’re looking to add size to your biceps, quads, or glutes, you may want to incorporate some traditional weight lifting into your routine.

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Pilates class is a terrific workout that builds strength, promotes flexibility, improves posture, and develops a rock-solid core.

It’s ultimately a great fit for people of any age or fitness level who want a lean, toned, athletic physique.

Just remember, pilates doesn’t burn a ton of calories — so you’ll have to really watch your diet or incorporate extra cardio if you’re looking to lose weight. And though pilates can make you incredibly strong, it’s not the best muscle builder out there — look to traditional weight lifting if you’re looking to pack on a little extra mass.

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