The goal of Mat Pilates is to strengthen the body’s “powerhouse,” a Pilates term that refers to your abdominals, lower back muscles, pelvic floor, hips and glutes. It has a deep focus on the core and will also strengthen your shoulders, inner thighs, and outer thighs, giving you a full body workout.

 

Through a series of floor and standing exercises, Pilates will sculpt and tone, build muscle and stamina, and stretch and elongate muscles to improve your posture and flexibility. Focusing on your breathing plays a major role in Pilates as it connects your breath to the exercise, allowing that influx of oxygen to better complete each movement.

 

The mind can benefit from mindfulness, relaxation and stress reduction during and after sessions due to the strong concentration on breathing deeply.

 

While low-impact, Pilates burns fat during and after workouts, as your muscles continue to shed calories long after the session ends.