Maggie Schlegel
Last updated January 27, 2025

What Pilates Is Good For – Why Pilates is a Fitness Style you Can't Skip.

If the word Pilates brings to mind a fitness room with complicated equipment… you’re in the right place.

At Sultivate, a Reformer Pilates Studio, we know the word Pilates doesn’t necessarily bring the exercise to life for most people. So we’re here to pull back the curtain today.

We’ll talk about:

What Pilates is.

Why it’s good for you.

How it helps.

And who Pilates is for.

Let’s get straight to the good stuff!

What is Pilates?

Pilates is a low-impact exercise style, designed to build physical strength, flexibility, and mental awareness.

It was created in the 1940’s by Joseph Pilates, to help keep Prisoners of War fit, and help rehabilitate the sick and injured easily in their hospital beds.

This is where the Pilates Reformer came from. The bedlike platform still used in Pilates studios today.

While Pilates is still a great rehab method for injuries, it’s practiced on a much wider scale these days.

There are six main principles of Pilates that remain the focus of the exercise style:

Control
Concentration
Precision
Flow
Breath
Centering

These principles are a big reason why Pilates ticks so many different boxes when it comes to benefits – both physical and mental. It is truly a mind-body workout.

There are two main styles of Pilates, Mat Pilates and Reformer Pilates. Both types of Pilates are extremely adaptable – making it a very accessible exercise style for experts and beginners alike.

They also offer amazing health benefits to Pilates exercisers.

Pilates for Health

Whether you want a mental boost or a physical one, Pilates is a great option.

Flexibility and Core strength

Mat Pilates or Reformer Pilates – both will get you a deep stretch and deep strength. The combination of flexibility and core strength sets you up for success in your daily movements and activities.

Building your core muscles while increasing their length can help you avoid injuries. It’s also the foundation for our next health benefit…

Posture and balance

Having long flexible core muscles to support your body is the difference between slouching and standing tall. If you’ve ever sat at a desk all day, you know how tight and uncomfortable you are when you slouch.

Increasing your posture and balance leads to happier back and neck muscles plus an easier walk through life… and a better shot at staying fall-free.

Stress-free, relaxation

Focusing on the mind-body connection through controlled breathing and mindful movement has a huge impact on your ability to relax.¹

In fact, this emphasis directly impacts cortisol levels in your body and helps reduce stress. Some Pilates classes, like our Relax Pilates class, our specifically designed for this very purpose.

You get the benefits of physical exertion which boosts your endorphins as well as being mentally refreshed and rejuvenated. This makes Pilates such a powerful practice for your mental well-being.

Injury prevention and Rehab

Pilates was initially modified for rehabilitation purposes way back when it was created. So it should be no surprise that it remains a powerful rehab tool today.²

With its focus on core strength, flexibility, and mindful movement it can have a huge impact on your body.

Your core supports your joints and larger muscles more effectively and completely, to both prevent injuries from occurring in the first place and allow them to heal more quickly and effectively as well.

Low-impact, full-body strengthening

Pilates is very joint-friendly while still helping you build your muscles and strength. Unlike many strength training programs, a lot of Pilates allows you to build your strength without working out against gravity.

The reformer is uniquely designed to allow a lot of strength-building exercises to occur lying down. You still have the benefits of resistance training through the use of spring tension – but you have a lot more control over it and avoid a lot of the jumping and movement-based impact.

Building your mind-body connection

This one can feel a bit vague if you’ve never been to a Pilates class. So let’s talk a bit about what it ACTUALLY means.

Pilates is all about thinking through the movement you’re making. While some exercise systems involve getting through the movement as quickly as possible, Pilates is about “mindful movement” Every aspect of each exercise is slow, controlled, and thought through.

This gives you a ton of clarity and body awareness. Leading to more relaxation and stress relief.

5 Physical Health Benefits of Pilates by MWC

A Step Further – What Pilates Can Do for Your Body

With so many benefits it can be hard to know what you’re likely to experience if you start Pilates on a regular basis.

But a big part of Pilates is… transformation. It can reshape the way your body looks, feels, and functions in your day-to-day activities.

We’ve touched on how it affects strength, posture, and flexibility. But what does that actually look and feel like? How does Pilates affect your daily living?

Stronger, more toned muscles – from your deep core muscles to your more apparent vanity muscles. You’re unlikely to bulk up with Pilates… you’re more likely to tone up and lengthen your muscles.
Posture and spinal health – stand taller in your everyday life. This has the added benefit of reducing tension and putting your body in better alignment for less risk of chronic back pain.
Flexibility and Range of Motion – adding fluidity and ease to your everyday life activities… with the added benefit of decreasing stiffness.
Reducing chronic pain – because so many of the muscles that are worked in Pilates are core and supporting muscles it can greatly reduce chronic pain. With more support for your joints and bones, Pilates can create a major difference in your quality of life.
Boosting balance and stability – through your stabilizing muscles. This allows you to worry less about falls and coordination. Literally improving your ability to walk through your daily activities.

Through Pilates, your body becomes stronger, more balanced, and more capable. It’s not just about looking good – it’s about feeling good too. With regular Pilates sessions, you’ll notice improvements in the way you move, the way you feel, and the way you live.

So… Who Should Take a Pilates Class?

Pilates is a very rare fitness style because it is good for so. many. different. people! It’s an adaptable, effective, holistic approach to wellness that can fit (and fix) so many needs.³

Here are a few people who may benefit from a Pilates class:

Any fitness level: Pilates exercises can be scaled to any physical need or level. In fact, at Sultivate we provide the progressions and regressions for every exercise in every class. This means you can take any Pilates class with us and feel confident in your abilities.
Athletes: Pilates is a great cross-training exercise if you play sports. It will help fix any imbalances that may be developing from repetitive movements and help build up your supporting muscles and flexibility. It can even reduce the risk of injury you may be prone to with your chosen sport.
Older adults: Pilates offers so many benefits that can contribute to continued movement in your daily life, even as you age. It helps you maintain strength, flexibility, and stability well into your later years. It’s great for keeping you active and independent, and confidently moving with less fear of falls.
Pregnant Mamas: Pilates exercises can be modified to be perfect for maintaining your fitness through a difficult, or easy pregnancy. Keep in mind, you’ll want to check with your healthcare provider and there are some exercises that should be modified. But Pilates can greatly improve your pelvic floor strength and help you adjust to your new posture. It’s great for postpartum too as you get back into the swing of life with your new baby.
Individuals with health issues: Because of the flexibility of Pilates exercises, they can be tailored to all sorts of specific needs. From chronic pain and arthritis… to scoliosis. Pilates is a great option for building strength and flexibility safely and with minimal pain throughout the process.

Whether you’re getting older and are concerned about your mobility, looking to outperform on the field, or need to find some relief from pain… Pilates is an excellent, flexible, workout option.

How to Get Started With Pilates

Starting anything new can feel nerve-wracking. But the truth is, taking a Pilates class can be an easy way to better your health and well-being. Here are some things to consider as you get started:

Explore your options: Mat or Reformer Pilates.

There are pros and cons to both Mat and Reformer Pilates. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses can go a long way toward picking the style that’s right for you.

For example, if you have a hard time getting up and down off the floor, you may want to go with Reformer Pilates.

But, if you struggle with your balance, maybe Mat Pilates is a better option as there are fewer moving pieces.

Read more about the different styles here – and learn what may be best for you.

Finding the right Pilates class and Instructor

Every Pilates class is a little different and every instructor teaches it with their own unique spin.⁴

For example, we have three different Reformer Pilates classes at Sultivate:

Sweat – for maximum cardio
Reformer – for a mix of cardio and strength
Relax – for a more mindful experience when you need to move but want to release tension too.

Every class will be a little different based on our unique and wonderful Pilates instructors.

Finding the class and instructor you resonate with will make showing up to class easier and more fun for your wellness journey.

Set realistic Fitness goals

It’s always easier to stick with a new routine if you have a goal – and a good rule of thumb is to make them SMART goals:

Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Time-bound

You can read more about SMART goals here. Regardless, they will help you to maintain a Pilates routine and see great results from it as well.

Invest to succeed

Whether this looks like a new water bottle, some fun Pilates socks, a whole new workout outfit, or a Pilates Mat for your home… getting excited about the process is part of sticking with it.

Maybe one day you’ll even invest in a Reformer for your home gym.

While we’ve all made the mistake of thinking buying workout equipment is all we need to do… only to have it sit unused in the back of our closet…

Having things that make you excited to workout can help to increase your motivation on a low-motivation day.

Start with a small Pilates habit and ramp it up

If you jump in guns blazing with a crazy hectic routine, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to keep up with it.

Instead, start with a Pilates class a week. Then slowly increase the number of Pilates classes you’re taking until you feel good about the time invested but don’t feel overwhelmed.

Pilates is the feel-good exercise you’ve been missing… not a chore you have to complete.

Finally… listen to your body

Only you know how much you can and can’t handle. With a goal of wellness and health, don’t overdo it. Pilates is meant to strengthen and rejuvenate… not exhaust you.

Make sure you take advantage of the exercise modifications as needed so you don’t hurt yourself. Remember, it’s about doing the exercises correctly not about doing the hardest version all the time.

Beginning your Pilates journey is about creating a schedule and routine that works best for you… then committing to it. It’s time to roll out your mat, or hop on a Reformer, take a deep breath, and regain your strength.

Why Pilates?

It’s more than just an exercise – it’s a lifestyle. One that nurtures your body AND your mind.

Focusing on core strength, flexibility, and mindful movement can offer you a pathway to improved posture, reduced stress, and a sense of well-being.

Regardless of your fitness, age, ability level, or goals – Pilates may be the answer to the fitness question you’ve been struggling with for years.

Drop by for a class with us and experience the benefits of Pilates in our fun, fitness community.