It is known that pilates helps to improve physical conditioning, increase flexibility and muscle strength, as it works different parts of the body in different ways.
But, can anyone practice pilates? Is there an established age to start the exercises?
Here comes the good news: there is no age to practice Pilates! Children, teenagers, adults and seniors are all welcome!
Training at Pilates walks between therapeutic and physical training, and can be adapted for better adaptation of the practitioner. There are more specific and delicate movements, with a higher level of difficulty, and others that are less complex and easier to perform. Thus, by having a wide variety of exercises at different levels, pilates can be done at all ages.
Physical conditioning may be more important than age when exercising, as it determines how much your body can accomplish within that practice and establishes its limits, facilities and difficulties.
Discover the different ways to exercise through pilates, according to your age:
Kids:
There are those who do not recommend that pilates be practiced by children under 12 years of age, because of the concentration that can be easily lost. However, there are those who say that there is no problem in applying it beforehand, as long as it is done in a light, relaxed way, as a joke.
At this age, pilates is an excellent choice to improve posture and avoid future problems, which children usually don’t pay attention to. There are factors such as school bags, computers and games that can contribute to a crooked posture, which is why exercises that work this part of the body are indicated.
It’s important to emphasize that you can’t demand too much from this audience, so no big efforts, the body of the little ones is still in development.
Teenagers:
Thinking about the profile of young people today, it’s already possible to see why pilates would be beneficial, isn’t it? Teenagers live connected, they have information in their hands and they don’t need to move to search for it, everything fits in the palm of their hand.
The result? Sedentary lifestyle, sleep interference, posture problems (especially in the spine), among others.
Young people can focus their exercises on improving flexibility, posture, strength and balance, so they have more self-control over their bodies, there is an improvement in the functioning of the organism, they become more active and even their self-esteem increases.
More and more, this public has been looking for pilates as an option, this factor is of great help, as it breaks the mandatory factor.
Adults:
In adult life, it is common to look for a way to improve the quality of life, take care of the body and aesthetics, pilates helps with all of this.
Body aches, dissatisfaction with a protruding tummy, problems with the scales and unhealthy habits are some of the main reasons why pilates is sought after, as there are several possibilities for exercises within it, which will be adapted to your focus and will help you to improve.
Practicing pilates can relieve work stress, improve daily pain, boost your spirits and make you feel more energetic, in addition to being the best option for those who want to lose belly fat (a recurring problem).
Elderly:
Because they have a more fragile musculature, their exercises must be carefully thought out so that they do not harm instead of help. The focus is usually on strengthening the musculature and restoring balance.
Practicing pilates in old age can be of great collaboration to reduce pain and increase disposition. Push-ups and exercises that require a lot of strength are usually left out, due to the risk of injuries and other problems.
It is good to remember that patients with osteoporosis and similar problems need even more special care.
In all these cases, it is essential to look for a professional specialized in the area, to help you decide which type of training is best for you and to help you do it correctly.