Pilates....Fact or Fiction?

There is so much information out there regarding the benefits of certain types of exercise, especially pilates.  Can it really be true that Pilates makes you taller?  Thanks to Pilates Style Magazine, we will debunk 5 popular myths and set the record straight!

1.  Pilates makes you taller.....
Well yes and no.  Pilates will not cause you to grow by making your actual bones grow longer or cause other musculoskeletal changes.  What pilates does do is improve your posture which allows you to stand taller.  The increased flexibility and core strength you gain by regular Pilates workouts will not only facilitate your ability to stand straighter, it allows you to achieve your maximum potential for height.  Pilates also helps counteract the forces of gravity which compress our bodies and joints.   

2.  Pilates will completely flatten your abdominals....
Remember, when it sounds too good to be true, it is to good to be true!  Everyone has a subcutaneous layer of fat that covers the abdominals (yes that eight-pack of abs is somewhere underneath) muscles.  To get rid of that extra subcutaneous layer, you need a mix of discipline and good genetics.  We all know someone who does absolutely no abdominal exercises and has a "flat" belly.  Pilates is a great way to tighten and tone the abdominals which helps pave the road to abdominal definition.  You must combine a healthful diet, cardiovascular exercise and properly executed abdominal exercises to achieve your goals. 

3.  Pilates can make you look like you never had a baby within 8 weeks of delivery.....
Many magazine articles have interviewed celebrities who look amazing a very short time after delivery.  Remember, these celebs have hours to devote to exercise, personal chefs and unlimited childcare access.  Everyone has a unique body and therefor, unique recovery time.  It is unsafe to return to pilates until at least 6 weeks postpartum.  Women need time to bond with their babies, heal from their 10 month marathon and appreciate the miracle of life!  Some moms need more recovery time due to complications during delivery or diastasis (a common tear of the rectus abdominals).  Other factors such as if the mother is breastfeeding, how her hormones are changing and if she is working all play a role.   

4.  Pilates can cure low back pain.....
A great deal of research shows positive results when it comes to Pilates preventing back pain.  We cannot go so far as to say that Pilates cures anything.  Two of the most common causes of back pain, weak abdominals and poor posture, are directly addressed during Pilates workouts.  It is no surprise that Pilates takes away a lot of the symptoms of back pain.  Movement heals our bodies and Pilates is a safe and effective way to get the body moving and healing.   

5.  Pilates can reverse signs of aging.....
Absolutey Pilates can reverse the signs of aging!  Simply put, Pilates improves muscle endurance, muscle tone, strength, sleep, performance of our activities of daily living, digestion, elimination and skin elasticity.  You cannot put all of those beneifts in a bottle so get out there and just do it!