You should always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or your specific situation.
It is recommended to incorporate other forms of exercise such as cardio and strength training for a well-rounded fitness routine (6).
By targeting various muscle groups through different Pilates exercises, you can help build lean muscle mass throughout your body for a more toned appearance.
Leg Circles: Tones the inner thighs, glutes, and hip flexors. By maintaining a strong core and keeping movements controlled, this exercise helps sculpt the lower body while improving hip mobility.
Pilates is a great way to tone your body, improve your posture, and feel better overall. It's a way to get fit that works and makes you think about what you're doing.
Emphasizes proper form and posture, which can have long-term benefits beyond just physical appearance
Pilates is effective for toning muscles and improving overall body strength. While it primarily focuses on building lean muscle mass and enhancing posture, incorporating Pilates into a regular exercise routine can contribute to weight loss when combined with a balanced diet and cardiovascular activities.
While traditional Pilates doesn’t use heavy weights, it incorporates resistance—especially with equipment like the Reformer—and focuses on eccentric muscle contractions (lengthening under tension), both of which can strengthen muscles.
Limited variety of exercises compared to the gym which reduces the ability to progressively overload the exercise. Progressive overload is one of the critical components of gaining muscle mass.
However, even practicing Pilates once a week can still provide benefits, especially when combined with other forms of exercise.
Both Reformer and mat Pilates can support toning, but they do so in slightly different ways depending on how they're practiced and what your goals are.
However, you should not rely on this method of exercise if you are keen to lose weight. There are some classes that combine cardiovascular exercise and Pilates and these may be more appropriate.
Whilst Pilates theoretically is not the quickest route can pilates tone your body to increasing muscle mass, anecdotally many people do feel that they look more ‘toned’ when they do Pilates. There are a few reasons why this may be.
Achieving a toned appearance typically requires a combination of factors, including regular exercise that targets various muscle groups, a balanced diet to support muscle definition, and possibly incorporating cardiovascular activities for overall fat loss.