Build Muscle, Burn Fat & Achieve Long-Term Wellness

The benefits of better muscle health are endless and ultimately result in improved energy, balanced body composition, improved metabolism, and greater mobility. In fact we now know that muscle holds the key to optimal aging.

And thankfully, our Pilates classes allow you to target a range of muscles, many of which aren’t as affected by standard workouts such as running or cycling and provide a total full-body workout. Specifically, here are the muscles our classes directly impact:

Stabilizer muscles: our classes force you to work deep intrinsic muscles like the multifidi, which runs the length of and surrounds your spine, and the transverse abdominis, which is essentially your body’s natural girdle. Stabilizer muscles do just that: stabilize. They stabilize your spine, your pelvis, and your core. Focusing on what’s happening inside, and holding strong in your middle is what allows you to control the movements throughout your exercises.

Gluteus muscles: Squats, dips, bridges, lunges, curls, and presses are all solid exercises for working one’s hamstrings, glute max, and glute med. Your “under butt,” however, is the hardest area to target and improve. It’s the area responsible for giving you a round, lifted tush (or, if not targeted properly, can cause the dreaded “pancake booty” effect). Pilates is great for toning the backside of one’s legs, as well as tightening and lifting glutes, and results can be seen after only a few consistent sessions.

Internal obliques: The body has two sets of oblique muscles — internal and external. Bicycle crunches work your external obliques, helping carve chiseled abdominal muscles. Static side planks, however, work your internal obliques. Similar to the transverse abdominis, side planks help keep your midsection tight and flat.

Inner thighs: Finding a workout that targets one’s inner thighs can be difficult, but our classes have you covered. Zipping in and extending out, focusing on your balance as you challenge against the natural momentum, effectively targets your adductor muscles.