What muscles are involved in Pilates?

Pilates offers a holistic approach to strengthening. The multitude of exercises allows you to engage all parts of the body and the pelvis.

It is never the same muscle groups (deep and stabilizing muscles) that are worked: legs, buttocks, abdominal muscles, back, arms... The figure is gently and harmoniously strengthened.

Both the anterior and posterior chains are worked on. It all depends on the position: in quadruped - on all fours - on the back, on the side, laterally or standing.

Pilates does not seek to hypertrophy any particular muscle or muscle group. (Muscle hypertrophy is the increase in size of the muscles. Muscle hypertrophy is one of the goals of weight training, it is also a side effect of muscle development such as muscle congestion, muscle burning or muscle soreness).

 Nevertheless, if all the muscles are successively solicited, several of them are involved in most of the movements:

• THE ABDOMINALS

       The abdominal muscles include several muscles:

• The rect us abdominis and the obliques which maintain the posture and allow the flexion of the bust forward and to the sides.
• The transversus abdominis, which holds the organs in place and when well developed, allows you to have a flat stomach.
• The psoas, which connects the trunk to the thighs.
• The lumbar vertebrae, also attached to the back muscles, are the antagonistic muscles that close the abdominal belt.

• THE FESSIERS

3 distinct muscles can be worked:

• The gluteus Maximus placed under the skin, above the other buttock muscles, it is used when needs power and strength in the lower half of the body.
  • It is therefore used for running, jumping and getting up from a sitting position.
  • If it is not sufficiently muscular, this muscle allows the belly to protrude and causes the pelvis to tilt forward.
• The gluteus medius: underneath the gluteus maximus, this muscle acts as an additional force during the hardest efforts.

• • It is also used to stabilise the whole body when standing on one leg for example.
  • Located on each side of the pelvis, the gluteus muscles contract with each step.
• The gluteus minimus: hidden beneath the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius, this muscle essentially assists in the controlled rotation of the femur.

• THE MUSCLES OF THE BACK

        the shoulder girdle: trapezius, pectoralis major, deltoids, dorsalis major .

In addition, Pilatesstrengthens the joints.