The short answer is a big yes. Pilates is a very effective way to tone your body, but it does so in a unique and powerful way that goes far beyond just building muscle.
Our Pilates sessions incorporate mat work and specialized equipment like Reformers, Chairs, and Barrels. The exercises blend strengthening and stretching with a focus on core engagement, proper alignment, coordinated breathing, and smooth transitions between movements. Sessions are fully personalized for your skill level and goals.
Pilates focuses on slow, controlled, flowing movements which helps with coordination. It focusses on precision which means that the forces produced during movement are equally distributed between joints and muscle groups. This reduces the likelihood of imbalance between muscle groups.
Firstly, whilst Pilates does not use heavy loads there are many exercises which utilise resistance particularly if working with the large Pilates equipment.
But yes – it’s true that a dedicated and consistent practice of Pilates alongside a healthy and balanced lifestyle will likely make you feel stronger and more toned, perhaps even with leaner limbs.
In addition to consistent Pilates practice, you also need to maintain a healthy diet and incorporate cardiovascular activities for overall body fat reduction.
Start by positioning yourself on all fours, with your does pilates tone your body hands directly under your shoulders and knees under your hips.
If you’re new to Pilates, aim for 2-3 times a week to start and gradually increase as you become more comfortable with the exercises (5). If you have specific areas of your body that you want to tone, consider targeting those muscles more frequently within your weekly routine.
Tone refers to the amount of tension in a muscle at rest. Resting muscle tone is a spectrum and very high or very low muscle tone could be problematic as in the medical world it could indicate a problem with the brain and nervous system. This is quite different to the concept of tone when we are thinking about exercise and aesthetics.
Over time, this can absolutely lead to a more toned appearance — especially when paired with healthy habits outside the studio.
It makes your body look more balanced and attractive by making weaker muscles stronger and making tight areas more flexible. This balanced growth not only looks good, but it also helps keep you from getting hurt.
However, you should not rely on this method of exercise if you are keen to lose weight. There are some classes that combine cardiovascular exercise and Pilates and these may be more appropriate.
Single-Leg Bridge: Targets the glutes and hamstrings. This move also activates the lower back muscles and improves spinal alignment, contributing to better posture and lower body strength.
Pilates and yoga both build core strength and flexibility using your own body weight. However, Pilates incorporates more resistance training with Springs and bands to build functional strength.