While Pilates isn’t a high-calorie-burning workout on its own, having more lean muscle does help your body burn more energy—even at rest.
Exhale as you continue to roll up, reaching forward towards your toes while keeping your legs straight.
Try our free 10-minute Ab Workout and learn the foundations of deep core training. Perfect for all levels, this quick workout will get you started on your journey to a stronger, more toned core.
So, rather than toning muscles directly, it’s about a holistic approach to building muscle and reducing body fat for a leaner appearance.
Anna Bartter is a freelance journalist who writes about health, fitness and women's lifestyle for publications including Stylist, Metro and Psychologies, among others.
During each Pilates session, our credentialed instructors guide you through a flowing sequence of controlled, deliberate movements coupled with deep breathing. The exercises focus on strengthening your core muscles while improving stability, mobility, and flexibility across your entire body.
Working out with a friend can be very inspiring and motivational, and at BodyMind Pilates we understand that connection by offering Duet Sessions. Just like Private Sessions, these classes provide access to all the equipment as well as personal training, support, and encouragement from one of our certified Pilates instructors.
The Reformer also allows for more movement variety, which can help target muscles from multiple angles — a useful factor when you're aiming to sculpt specific areas.
It’s a real plus that she comes to our home or my office which saves lots of time and allows me to focus on doing the stretches and exercises the right way because I have supervision. Her weekly plans are clear, concise, and well thought out, which I think, is why my progress has been so remarkable. I’m three months post op and my flexibility is mostly returned and I have very little residual pain. I’m looking forward to continuing to do all of the things that I’ve done my whole life. I would encourage anyone to give Vitality at Home a try for your long term health!
It’s a common misconception that you can “tone” muscles. Muscles by nature are can pilates tone your body lean mass – they can only grow or shrink in size.
This means even at rest you are burning more calories. Pilates can prepare your body for strength training and cardiovascular exercise by waking up your muscles and improving the efficiency of your movements.
Nutrition: Your diet plays a big role in muscle definition. Eating enough protein, healthy fats, and complex carbs supports muscle repair and fat loss, revealing toned muscles faster.
Look for a Pilates class that suits your fitness level and goals. Beginners should start with introductory classes to learn the basics, while more advanced practitioners might benefit from specialized sessions.
Place your bottom elbow directly under your shoulder, with your forearm resting on the mat for support.