With a wide
range of exercise programmes now available, it can be difficult to ascertain
which methods suit which people. Experts generally agree that the best results
for weight loss occur when marrying cardio and strength training. However,
there are other forms of exercise that can be enormously helpful in increasing
core strength and losing weight, as life coach and former yoga teacher Isis Monteverde knows from experience. As a type of workout that benefits
both the mind and body, those looking to tone the stomach and shed belly fat
should consider practising Pilates.
People
seeking to lose weight should not focus solely on the scales. Pilates also
helps individuals to move their spines and joints more and strengthen their
breathing; all of which help to improve overall health.
Which Pilates Exercises Are the Most
Effective for Toning the Stomach?
The plank is
rightly famous for building core strength; there is no move quite like it for
strengthening the abdominal muscles. The classic plank exercise requires
balancing on the forearms, stretching out the legs behind with the hips lifted
off the ground in a straight line. However, there are however variations on the
move can make it more interesting, such as twisting the hips from left to
right.
There is
also a move called swimming. Lying on the floor with arms and legs stretched
out, individuals should lift their upper and lower body off the floor and kick
their arms and legs, simulating a swimming action.
Another
effective move is called a teaser. To begin the move, individuals should lie on
their back, squeezing the legs together in a straight line. Arms should be
extended out to create a ‘T’ position on the floor before lifting the head off
the floor and looking towards the toes. Lifting both arms and legs and rolling
up into a ‘V’ position, practitioners should then be balancing on the tailbone
before twisting to one side and back to the centre.
The Advantages of Core Work
It is
impossible to spot-reduce fat. However, the beauty of Pilates is that
practitioners learn how to engage pelvic floor and deep core muscles. This type
of movement leads to increased activation in the muscles and results in a more
toned appearance.
However, it
should not be regarded as a cure-all. Much like other forms of exercise,
Pilates alone is not enough and should be used in conjunction with a healthy
diet. The only way to see the abdominal definition created by Pilates is to eat
a diet rich in fresh foods and limit overly processed foods, thereby removing
the fat atop the muscles.
