Whilst Pilates isn’t so good at building muscle bulk or power, what it is great at is utilising your postural muscles. These are deep muscles that tend to be closer to the skeleton that hold us up against gravity and provide stability around the joints whilst we are moving.
Another way that Pilates may help you to have the appearance of becoming more toned is by improving the way that you carry yourself. As you become more aware of your body you may naturally alter your posture to look longer and leaner.
Visible muscle tone comes from both building lean muscle and reducing body fat. Pilates alone may not be the most efficient path to fat loss, but it prepares the body for higher-intensity exercise and supports better movement patterns. For optimal toning, Pilates works best alongside cardiovascular exercise and dietary changes.
Leg Circles: Tones the inner thighs, glutes, and hip flexors. By maintaining a strong core and keeping movements controlled, this exercise helps sculpt the lower body while improving hip mobility.
Pilates can help improve your posture, which may indirectly change the appearance of your body. It also helps build lean muscle and burn fat, leading to a more toned physique.
Strength training exercises help build muscle mass, while reducing overall body fat through a combination of a healthy diet and cardio exercises, can make muscles appear more toned.
Even though we have a close-knit community, we are not a social hour. Our programs are built to push you. GRIT is perfect for men and naturally bigger bodies, as our reformers are built to handle them. We bring weight lifting and athletic training practices to the reformer.
Mindful Engagement: Pilates is about controlled, precise movements. Engaging the correct muscles in every exercise ensures maximum activation and better results.
This is where a healthy haus of pilates diet comes into play. By consuming the right amount of calories and nutrients, you can support your body in reducing overall body fat and revealing the toned muscles that Pilates helps to build (2).
If you are doing Pilates with equipment, such as the Reformer or Trapeze Table, you may often be working the muscles in a way that they are lengthening under tension.
“Pilates works the body as a whole,” agrees Folkard. “Rather than isolating one or two muscle groups, it encourages two-way stretch and strengthening moves that engage many different muscles, creating a balanced workout and increasing muscle mass.”
My shoulder was dislocated and ultimately, surgically repaired. I’ve been told that rehab for a shoulder is the worst part, but Dr. Jenna Smiith has made the whole process bearable. She measures progress every visit and tailors the stretches and exercises to my individual performance, or lack of. Her enthusiasm is contagious and helps to motivate me to do the stretches every day, and usually a couple of times per day. She spends time and studies how I’m moving and adjusts each stretch to maximize my efforts.
"Extend the arms. Lift the opposite arm and leg whilst the chest lifts a little too. Quicken up the pace when you’re ready."
When comparing the Pilates body to the gym body, many factors come into play, including individual goals, skill level, and personal preferences. Some people may find that they enjoy one form of exercise more than the other, making it easier to stick with consistently.