PILATES CLASSES PERTH

Yoga is an ancient practice that has become increasingly popular in today’s busy society. With many forms of exercise coming and going, Yoga is one that has stood the test of time, having been around for more than 5,000 years. Yoga brings your body and mind together, and is built on three main elements – exercise, breathing and meditation. The benefits of practicing Yoga at Premier Martial Arts and Fitness Academy go beyond burning calories and toning muscles, with many other physical and mental benefits gained from the total mind-body workout.

The fundamental principles of Pilates focus on balance, concentration, control, centred awareness, fluid movements, and breath. Pilates classes at Premier Martial Arts and Fitness Academy enhance core strength, increasing your flexibility, coordination and spatial awareness. Pilates involves over 500 exercises, which will help you gain muscle strength, improve flexibility, and build a stronger core. These exercises can be performed as a mat class or by using specialized equipment for more resistance. Training in Pilates at Premier Academy engages the whole person, not just the muscles. For everybody from an athlete to a mother, Premier Martial Arts and Fitness Academy’s Pilates classes will develop and enhance stamina, posture, alignment and core strength for elite performance to everyday activities.

The Pilates Method uses specifically designed equipment and floor exercises to promote uniform development of the body. This allows weaker muscles to develop instead of the body continuously relying on the stronger muscles to do the work. Pilates focuses on the core muscles first, specifically stomach, butt and back, in a sense, working the muscles from the inside out. This achieves and maintains a balanced aligned body.

Incorporating Yoga and Pilates into your daily workout routine at Premier Martial Arts and Fitness Academy will not only see you reaping the rewards from the workout itself, but will also complement any other weight, cardio, and/or sport specific training you are doing.

A common saying is “Yoga and Pilates are easy…. until you learn how to do them correctly!” and that is mostly true. Yoga and Pilates practice at Perth’s Premier Academy can be a lot of fun as it involves creativity and imagination. The more focus and energy you put into the work, the harder it becomes, but it becomes more pleasing at the same time. You can choose how much effort you put into your practice, and that will determine the level of challenge. Your Premier Academy instructor will also give you alternative forms of each exercise if you are struggling.

Wear comfortable and supportive clothes, that are form fitting but not restrictive. Avoid zippers and snaps. When lying on your back or stomach or rolling over, a protruding piece is extremely uncomfortable. Avoid clothing that is too loose – a loose shirt can slip right down over your head in the inverted positions! Long hair should be tied up for the same reason. Barefoot is required as we train on fully matted floors at Premier Academy. Bring a clean towel or a Yoga mat to do your floor work on.

• Improved Flexibility – whether your goal is to touch your toes, reduce the tightness in your hamstrings, or to simply feel less stiff, the stretches and poses performed during Yoga and Pilates will help with this. Developing greater strength and flexibility in your muscles will consequently reduce your risk of injury and will allow greater movement in your body to help you perform better physically.

• Improves Posture – Yoga and Pilates exercises help improve bad posture. Posture is an important dimension in staying healthy throughout life. The spine is the central channel of the nervous system, so when your spine is healthy, pathways of the nervous system are strong and clear and vital energy flows more freely. 

• Increases Strength -spend a few seconds in a Yoga pose or Pilates exercise and you’ll realise how much strength Yoga and Pilates require. The benefit of building strength through Yoga and Pilates at Premier Martial Arts and Fitness Academy is that you balance it with flexibility.

• Improves Sleep Quality – incorporating Yoga and Pilates into your routine at Premier Martial Arts and Fitness Academy can help promote better sleep. Yoga and Pilates can help you relax and unwind, helping you to fall asleep faster, sleep longer, and feel more rested when you wake up. Yoga and Pilates has also been shown to increase the secretion of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep and wakefulness.

• Reduces Stress and Anxiety – regular exercise has a positive influence on mental health and can help reduce feelings of stress, anxiety and depression. Yoga and Pilates classes at Premier Martial Arts and Fitness Academy have been shown to act as self-soothing techniques, and can help to manage stress response systems by reducing the heart rate, lowering blood pressure and easing respiration. 

• Improves Concentration and Focus – the practice of Yoga and Pilates requires physical concentration as you learn to bring your focus to your breath as you move through a sequence of poses. Bringing in an awareness of your body and breath is a useful tool that can be used to increase your concentration in your day-to-day activities.

• Improves Cardiovascular Health – Yoga and Pilates poses/exercises rely on holding muscle tension for a short period of time, helping to improve cardiovascular fitness and circulation. This can help to reduce blood pressure and decrease risk factors for heart disease.