Benefits of Pilates to Core Strength
We’ve all heard it before: a strong core is important. But what does that actually mean? We do the sit-ups, we hold the planks, so our cores must be strong, right? Well, maybe not.
Your Core Is More Than Just Abs
Most people think of their “core” as being their visible 6-pack abs, and that sit-ups or crunches that make you feel the burn must be good core work. However, at Strong Body Pilates, we teach a more complete, anatomical, and functional understanding of the core. Your “core” isn’t limited to one muscle group, it’s an integrated system that supports everything you do.
Your core includes:
Four groups of abdominals that:
Stabilize the spine and cinch the waist
Bend the spine forward and to the side
Aid in twisting the spine
Back muscles that:
Offer spinal stabilization
Bend the spine backward and to the side
Your pelvic floor
Muscles that connect your shoulders and hips to your torso
And yes, your glutes are part of your core too
So no, your core is not just your 6-pack abs. It’s your body’s full center, wrapping around your entire midsection like a three-dimensional stabilizing system.
What Can Core Strength Do for Me?
When your core is working correctly, it enables you to:
Align your rib cage over your pelvis for efficient posture
Move with better agility and control
Breathe more fully and efficiently
Prevent injury by supporting your spine and joints
Coordinate energy transfer between upper and lower body
And something most people don’t consider, it improves your gait efficiency
Let’s revisit the importance of that last one for a moment.
When your rib cage is stacked directly over your pelvis, your body moves in a more organized, balanced, and energy efficient way. Pilates helps you to not only understand this, but develop muscle memory to maintain your optimal alignment. This will reduce unnecessary tension in the hips, back, and shoulders and allows for better force transfer as you push to walk, climb stairs, or play your favorite sport.
If you’ve ever felt any of the issues below, you may be suffering from alignment and imbalance issues:
Tight hip flexors and quads
Lower back compression
Tension in the shoulders and neck
We can help you! Pilates trains your body to organize itself from the center, improving the quality of every step you take, literally. Core strength isn’t just for working out. It’s for everything you do.
Why Strong Body Pilates for Core Training?
At Strong Body Pilates, our experience level and trained eyes see what others miss. We regularly work with high achieving performers, athletes, business leaders, dancers, and parents. What they quickly discover once they work with us is this: Pilates reveals what’s been missing.
We progress our clients through neuromuscular coordination rather than simply increasing reps or weights. We reinforce your best alignment in training your body how to support itself and help you look and feel better as a result!
How Can I Know If I’m Using My Core Correctly?
Try this!
Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet on the ground.
Take a deep inhale.
On your exhale, completely empty the air from your lungs until you have nothing left.
Do you feel your waist draw inward tightly and your lower back lengthen into the mat? We thought so!
That’s Pilates core strength at play. Specifically, your deepest abdominals, the transverse abdominals, are firing. You don’t need to breathe this way all the time, but it’s an easy way to understand proper activation and what the Pilates difference feels like. Proper Pilates teaches you how to integrate this activation into all your movements, both in the studio and out in the world.
Get ready to receive the benefits of core training with Pilates, and book now!