Certified Pilates Teacher: 7 Science-Backed Physical Benefits
Dec 15, 2022
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If you’re training to be a certified Pilates instructor, you’re not only doing the spadework to help students to be more physically fit, toned and balanced. Preparing your body and mind for this new career can also benefit your own body.
Pilates has been proven to promote great posture, better flexibility, body awareness, enhanced focus, stress reduction, and increased relaxation. Mounting evidence suggests that it has more health benefits.
Pilates Teaching Certification
First of all, do you need a certificate to teach Pilates? Whether you’ve been practicing Pilates for years or are just beginning to focus on committing to it, getting certified as a Pilates instructor can help you advance your career. Professional Pilates training and certification can open up new career and life opportunities.
Be sure to opt for a reputable certification program. Take the Mat Pilates certification as an example. It’s a science-based curriculum accredited by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and is recognized internationally.
Now, let’s look at seven of the many research-based benefits of Pilates for instructors.
Muscular Strength and Endurance
A 2015 study of 32 adults aged 62 to 6 demonstrated that progressive resistance training using equipment-based Pilates is great for increasing lower-limb strength. Additionally, according to numerous research, Pilates builds core physical strength and endurance over time.
The results of the studies showed the following:
- Doing Pilates three times a week for five weeks improved abdominal muscle endurance in healthy women.
- Doing Pilates three times a week for eight weeks increased abdominal and lower-back muscle endurance in young, healthy adults.
- Doing Pilates twice a week for 12 weeks increased abdominal and upper-body muscle endurance in adults aged 25 to 65.
- Waist circumference increased throughout an 8-week trial but not throughout 4-week research.
Balance and Coordination
Numerous studies have demonstrated how Pilates improves balance, particularly in the elderly. One study showed that a group of seniors 65 and older who did Pilates in a 10-week Pilates reformer program showed increased balance, mobility, and range of motion in their hips and ankles.
Participants in the program also demonstrated feeling more secure and better protected from falls. They may concentrate on keeping active and mobile since they are less concerned about an accident, which will further safeguard them from harm.
Body Awareness
Research has proven that Pilates improves proprioception or body awareness. As a mind-body exercise, Pilates allows your perception of comfort or discomfort, your emotions, and your surroundings to be made more acute by turning your attention inward and concentrating on the sensations in your body.
With improved proprioception, the body can respond to any stimulus much better. As a result, you can avoid falling or getting injured. With better body awareness, you may also help prevent binge eating or overeating since you’ll be more conscious of your body’s hunger cues.
Mental Health
In addition to increased body awareness, Pilates promotes relaxation and lowers stress levels. The mind-body connection can help you feel more attuned to your body and less stressed in general, while the slow, controlled motions and deep breathing assist in soothing the nervous system.
It can also help you better handle stress in other aspects of your life since it creates greater awareness and attention.
Pilates can help to increase energy and combat weariness as well. Pilates-related deep breathing helps to oxygenate the blood, which can result in more energy throughout the day. Moreover, Pilates’ enhanced strength and flexibility help lessen fatigue by enhancing your general musculoskeletal health.
Brain Function
Researchers found out that exercising enhances neurogenesis, the generation of new brain cells. They also discovered that it protects existing cells by increasing the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This substance protects nerves and is sometimes referred to as "Miracle-Gro" for the brain.
Another team of researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found similar results. They found that compared to aerobic exercise, people’s brain function is much better after engaging in mindful movement practices like Pilates.
Nervous System
The neurological system performs better when muscles are activated more deeply. We tend to use numerous distinct parts of our brains when we move.
Then, the brain transmits a signal to the muscle fibers via the spinal cord. You can activate a movement chain that may have been dormant for a long period when you learn to voluntarily engage specific muscles, such as deep core activation in Pilates.
Further, our nervous system plays a significant role in every aspect of our health and well-being, so taking care of it is essential. Deeper muscle activation, better brain-to-body connection, and the release of chemicals that reduce stress and improve mood are all signs of a healthy neurological system.
Weight Loss
There’s no denying that Pilates has muscle-strengthening advantages. However, it’s not certain in terms of weight loss. It might aid in weight loss, but several different factors, including your exercise level, nutrition, and dietary choices, may come into play.
For example, a meta-analysis of 11 randomized control trials indicated that Pilates could decrease body weight and body fat. However, it didn’t affect waist circumference. Most studies examined the impact of introducing Pilates to participants’ daily routines for a predetermined amount of time (8 to 24 weeks) vs. continuing with their current lifestyles.
If weight loss is your objective, there may be more effective exercises to support it than Pilates. This is so that muscles can be toned and mobility is improved rather than trying to burn the most calories possible.
Final Thoughts
Any fitness enthusiast would take the opportunity to earn money while exercising. Plus, only a few careers can offer control over earning potential and health advantages. Hence, if you’re looking for a less competitive yet profitable and healthier career path, consider becoming a Pilates instructor.
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