
You may have heard “Pilates is a great work out!” And then you wondered, “What is Pilates? Is Pilates for me? Where do I sign up?” Well, then this post is for you! Read on to find out all you need to know about Pilates in the Birmingham area.
What is Pilates?
Pilates is a form of exercise that focuses on strength, flexibility, posture, and balance. It was initially popular among ballerinas, but now it is a popular form of exercise for women and men of any age looking to build strength and maintain balance. (Because who doesn’t want to be strong and elegant like a ballerina?) Many of the exercises focus on strengthening your core and pelvic floor muscles.
Is Pilates for me?
Pilates is great for:
- Women who are postpartum since pregnancy and delivery often leave women with weak core and pelvic floor muscles
- Women who experience stress urinary incontinence, which is the leaking of urine while coughing or sneezing. This can be a sign of weak pelvic floor muscles.
- Women who experience pelvic muscle pain with intercourse
- Anyone who wants to resume exercising after physical therapy for an injury (since Pilates is low impact but is very effective at strengthening your muscles)
- Anyone with low back pain
- Anyone with an autoimmune disorder, which increases inflammation in your body
- Anyone looking for a fun exercise program that is lower in intensity, but still effective
In 2018, I was diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome, an autoimmune condition that causes dry mouth and eyes, fatigue, and joint pain. I wanted to find lifestyle changes that could decrease my inflammation and improve my symptoms. Someone recommended that I try Pilates. Not only have my symptoms improved, but I’ve also found a fun exercise that I love, made new friends, and improved my balance and strength!
Where Do I Sign Up?
Most Pilates studios offer a trial class. I highly recommend that you try one or a few trial classes to be sure that you will enjoy it and to see which studio is the best fit for you. It also helps to choose a studio that is close to your home, work, or childcare since you are more likely to go if it is close by.
There are a lot of options for Pilates in the Birmingham area. Here are a few to check out:
Vestavia Hills
Mountain Brook
Homewood
Hoover
The YMCA has several locations around the area that offer pilates classes, too!
I love the positive changes I have seen in my body. I also enjoy the community of young and older women and men that I have become a part of through my studio. I plan to continue practicing Pilates for many years to come. You should definitely give this exercise a try if you are looking for a long term, low impact and fun way to increase your strength, balance, and flexibility while making friends along the way.