With years of experience as a Physical Therapist, Jenna Smith has dedicated their career to helping patients achieve their maximum physical potential and improve their quality of life.
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.
For example, it is common for people to stand in a resting position with their lower back arched, which means that their stomach protrudes. Standing in a way that reduces the arch of the lower back prevents the stomach from sticking out.
So, instead of making you bulkier, Pilates tones your body by building lean, functional muscle and improving the overall shape of your body.
Anna Bartter is a freelance journalist who writes about health, fitness and women's lifestyle for publications including Stylist, Metro and Psychologies, among others.
In addition to consistent Pilates practice, you also need to maintain a healthy diet and incorporate cardiovascular activities for overall body fat reduction.
Mat Pilates, on the other hand, relies entirely on bodyweight and gravity. While it might seem less intense at first, it's highly effective when performed with control and consistency. Because there’s pelo external resistance, mat workouts often demand more from your stabilizing muscles, which can improve functional strength and endurance.
This contributes to a firmer, more defined appearance even without significantly increasing muscle bulk.
This is where a healthy diet comes into play. By consuming the right amount of calories and nutrients, you can support your body in reducing overall body fat and revealing the toned muscles that Pilates helps to build (2).
Tech neck, anyone? Yep – us too. Hours spent working on laptops and then evenings spent scrolling mindlessly on social media are wreaking havoc on our neck and back health, leading to postural issues such as neck humps and lower back pain.
This includes eccentric training, which lengthens and strengthens muscles without adding bulk. Improved body awareness and alignment also contribute to a leaner, more upright look.
Pilates can be a valuable component of a well-rounded fitness routine aimed at improving muscle tone, but it may be more effective when combined with other forms of exercise and a healthy lifestyle.
One of the great things about Pilates is that it can target a variety of muscle groups, all while using your own body weight as resistance.
This is really important for efficient movement and also to help us stand up taller which can help you haus of wellness look slimmer..