- What to choose between stretching and Pilates
- Reasons to choose Pilates
- Reasons to choose Stretching
- Some exercises to mix stretching and Pilates
- Conclusion
What to choose between stretching and Pilates?
You find yourself at a crossroads between stretching and Pilates, two distinct approaches but equally beneficial for your physical well-being. Pilates and stretching share some similarities, particularly in their gentle execution.
However, despite these similarities, these two disciplines pursue different objectives. Pilates primarily aims to strengthen the deep muscles, while stretching focuses on lengthening all of the body’s muscles.
Reasons to choose Pilates
Pilates, created by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century, offers much more than simple muscle stretching. Choose Pilates if you want to:
- Tone your body by strengthening deep muscles
- Improve your posture, balance, and coordination
- Lose weight and reduce belly fat
- Get a good workout
Opting for Pilates means choosing a holistic approach that works on the coordination between body and mind, fostering overall well-being.
Reasons to choose Stretching
Stretching, on the other hand, focuses on extending and loosening the muscles. It provides an increased range of motion, choose stretching if you want to:
- Reduce muscle tension and improve flexibility
- Increase your flexibility
- Prevent muscle stiffness
- Relax
In this case, stretching might be the ideal solution!
Some exercises to mix stretching and Pilates
Forward bend with hamstring stretch (A mix of Stretching and Pilates)
Starting position: Standing, feet shoulder-width apart.
- Gently bend your torso forward while keeping your legs straight.
- Lower down as much as you can, feeling the stretch in your hamstrings.
- Once at the bottom, engage your abdominal muscles and rise vertebra by vertebra to strengthen the lower back.
Plank with hip extension (A mix of Stretching and Pilates)
Starting position: In a plank position, arms extended and body aligned.
- Lift one leg toward the ceiling while keeping your torso stable.
- Hold the position for a few seconds to stretch the hip and strengthen the abdominal muscles.
- Lower the leg and repeat on the other side.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the choice between stretching and Pilates depends on your personal goals and exercise preferences. If you aim for deep muscle strengthening and posture improvement, Pilates might be your ally. For increased flexibility and prevention of stiffness, stretching might better suit your needs.
However, don’t forget that the ideal solution might also be to combine both of these complementary approaches for a perfect balance between strength and flexibility. Ultimately, the most important thing is to find what works best for you and create an exercise routine that brings you satisfaction and well-being.