Pilates always seems like such a relaxing idea, in my mind its a little more intense than Yoga, a lot less high impact that HIIT but still an amazing all round workout. But I always without fail forget how challenging it can be. It had been quite a while since my last pilates class when I decided to try Hot Pilates this weekend. Along the same lines as Bikram Yoga, Hot Pilates is practiced in a room of high temperature to challenge and detox the body.
Having tried Bikram Yoga a few years ago and really enjoyed it I thought I would try this after seeing it advertised at a local womens only gym. During Bikram I remember it literally feeling as though I was sitting in a sauna but Hot Pilates felt completely different. I'm not sure if they temperature was lower or if it was the different type of activity but it felt a lot more comfortable.
Toasty warm but not unbearable.
Toasty warm but not unbearable.
The focus of the class I took was definielty core strength and after just 15 minutes I could feel the burn. We started with some light breathing and finding our pilates posture. Personally my posture is appalling so I really find this important when taking a class and the instructor was super helpful giving tips and advice all the time. The class consisted of lots of plank positions, core holds, leg extensions and balance exercises. Throughout the class we used a bender ball, a soft ball used for stabilisation and to increase the intensity of some of the exercises. We propped it behind our heads during leg raises to ensure the neck wasn't strained, behind the back during core exercises to support the back, between the legs during squats to increase the challenge. It sounds silly but I was amazed at how such a small piece of equipment really transformed the whole class.
I love the feeling of exhaustion I get after an intense spinning or HIIT class but its not quite the same as the calm and peaceful tired feeling after a yoga or pilates class. I think its the feeling as though I've really taken the time to do something positive for myself. Practicing Hot Pilates also has a huge list of health benefits from being an alternative treatment for back pain or injury, increasing calorie burn right through to being beneficial for pre or post natal new mums.
The key benefits are -
- Detoxing the body and skin - Sweating on a regular basis allows the body to cleanse itself and release harmful toxins and waste from the skin.
- Immunity boost- Apparently viruses cannot survive in high temperatures so doing exercise such as this that increases the body's core temperature helps fight off infections. Great for this time of year
- Weight Loss- Like Bikram Yoga, regular practice of Hot Pilates can result in weight loss because stretching deeper helps to build more muscle, which in turn burns more fatty acids and breaks down glucose.
- Flexibility- As the body temperature increases the muscles are able to relax a little more and therefore flexibility can be increased, it is important to have a good teacher though to ensure you do not hurt or over stretch yourself.
Overall, it was a great experience, two days on and I'm still sore, so I'll definitely be going back for another class.
Have you tried hot Pilates or Bikram Yoga? What did you think?
