6 Reasons to do Pilates in Philadelphia
Posted By: Pamela Toy
There are a lot of amazing benefits to Pilates training. We previously wrote about how beneficial it can be for your mental health.
However, in this post, I wanted to discuss the benefits of doing Pilates in Philadelphia for people who live in the city.
Having lived in Philly for the last 10 years, I have met a lot of people who are very skeptical of Pilates training.
We will cover benefits of training specific to people living in the city like seasonality, limited outdoor activities, obesity, and much more.
My overall goal is to increase the popularity of Pilates in the city.
Let’s go ahead and jump in.
1. Seasonality in Philadelphia
Unlike Florida, Pennsylvania goes through all 4 seasons. Unfortunately for some, this includes winter.
It can get really cold in the wintertime, which prevents you from doing specific activities like running, cycling, volleyball, etc.
There are indoor tracks in Philadelphia and you can take a cycling class or jump on a treadmill, but that can be limiting/boring to some.
Running on a treadmill in the Winter instead of along the Schukyll River (in the summer and spring) may not be the most appealing to everyone.
Enter Pilates.
Pilates is an amazing workout that typically takes place indoors. Most Pilates Studios in Philadelphia are well heated and insulated. This can make Pilates workouts feasible regardless of the weather. Workouts can take place in the summer, winter, spring, and fall!
During the colder seasons in Philadelphia, it can be very easy to lose motivation and gain weight.
However, having an outlet like Pilates not only provides a great physical workout but it’s also helpful for blowing off steam.
We previously wrote about how Pilates can be beneficial for your mental health. This is especially important in the wintertime.
Studies show that Seasonal Affective Disorder affects over 500,000 people in the U.S. (1)
Keeping your mind in the right place is very important and Pilates can help with that.
Combat Obesity in Philly
Approximately 67.9% of adults in the city and approximately 41% of youth aged 6-17 are overweight or obese according to the CDC. (2)
According to Healthline, Pilates can help promote weight loss through mind-body concentration. (3)
The fact that Pilates can be utilized year-round in Philly is a big bonus in this regard.
As we get older, it is incredibly important to stay in shape.
Going to the gym to pump out a workout can be boring especially if you don’t have a partner.
However, through Pilates, you generally work with an instructor either privately or in a class setting. This can make it much easier to stay motivated as your peers can help to push you.
3. Limited forms of exercises in Philadelphia
Living in a city like Philadelphia also has its limitations. For example, you can’t do certain activities like water sports like surfing or winter sports like Skiing.
There are also limited opportunities to do things like play tennis due to the lack of tennis courts in Philadelphia (only a few playable courts in the city).
Luckily, Pilates Studios are located all over the city of Philadelphia. Not only is Pilates a fantastic workout, but it is also a skill that is developed over time.
I know many people who were bummed when they moved to Philly because they did not have access to water sports or other activities.
However, once they started training Pilates it became a fun and exciting hobby that they became passionate about as well.
Seeing other people get hooked on Pilates is honestly one of my favorite things about being an instructor.
4. Improve Core Strength and Eliminate Belly Fat
Pilates can also improve and tone your core. Often times the core is forgotten or neglected by many, but in Pilates, your core is the main focus.
Men will want to work their core right before summertime to get their abs in peak condition for beach season.
They want to avoid hitting the beach with a dad bod, but months of neglecting their core can make it really hard to develop a six-pack in a timely manner.
This can be really frustrating, but it’s one more reason to incorporate Pilates into your weekly regimen. Doing Pilates year-round can help you keep your core toned and ready to go.
5. Meet New People in Philadelphia
After college, it can be difficult to meet new people especially in a city like Philadelphia. However, Pilates classes provide a great way to form new connections.
Taking group classes in particular, is a great way to meet other people who are also passionate about Pilates. One of the really cool things about Pilates classes is that you can meet so many people from all types of backgrounds.
You may meet an attorney, a tennis instructor, a chef or even a digital marketer!
If I have learned anything over time it’s that networking is everything and you never know when your connections will come in handy.
6. Pilates Provides an Alternative Workout
Pilates doesn’t have to be your primary form of exercise, but it can also provide an alternative workout to your current routine. As we stated previously, a lot of workout routines can become monotonous after a while.
Running on the treadmill or pumping out reps just to burn some calories may not be exciting for everyone. However, Pilates training can be a great way to mix up your workouts while building a skill.
Due to the nature of Pilates, most people struggle initially. This can make training very motivating because many advanced exercises take months to build up to.
Sound exciting?
For many people who are just going through the motions, it can be easy to plateau or even regress after some time. With Pilates training, you can continue to make the workouts increasingly more difficult by adding springs to the reformer or chair.
Additionally, many people who work out consistently will neglect things like balance and flexibility. Throwing in a Pilates session even once a week can help you to work on those areas.
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References
1. How Winter Affects Your Mental Health. UC Health. https://www.uchealth.com/articles/how-winter-affects-your-mental-health/.
2. Community Profile: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dch/programs/communitiesputtingpreventiontowork/communities/profiles/both-pa_philadelphia.htm.
3. These 19 Benefits of Pilates Will Inspire You to Fire Up Your Core. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/pilates-benefits#for-weight-loss