Navigating the world of fitness and health can be challenging at the best of times and there is a lot of information floating around out there so I'm here to shed some light on a few of them.
You don't have to be achingly sore the day after a workout in order to see results. TRUE.
Being sore is not always a sign of a good workout. A good workout means having correct form and executing the moves with precision, so that the muscles fully activate and the neural connections fire up. In Pilates we LOVE precision to gain the best results possible.
The only way to get full-body definition is by doing high reps with heavy weights. FALSE.
Heavy weights will get you results, but you can also get beautiful definition by maintaining proper form while squeezing and releasing your muscles as you work them.
Strengthening your mind-body connection is exclusive to yoga practices. FALSE.
Mind-body connection is something you should practice in any workout. The more you focus on the moves and the muscles that are supposed to be activated, the more effective your workout will be. If you've done Pilates at least a few times you'll know that if the mind is wandering the movements are not as effective and when you've been focusing class seems to fly by!
You should always stretch before and after a workout. TRUE. This is so important! If you don't take the time to stretch, your body will become tight and imbalanced, and you will not be able to have full range of motion in your joints. Stretching helps prevent injury and other problems.
Pilates is all about a nice ebb and flow of contracting and then lengthening to ensure we build strength nut maintain length and flexibility
Doing squats is the best way to tone and lift your glutes. FALSE. Squats are great, but they only work the glutes in one plane of motion - the sagittal plane. To lift and tone your glutes, you want to work them the way they were designed to work, in multiple planes of motion - frontal, sagittal, and transverse. No doubt you've felt the many different ways we work our butt in class, we're always challenging the gluteal muscles in new ways!
Of course there are many myths out there but we'll keep it at that today - let me know if you have any myths you're unsure of!
Nicole x