Whilst Pilates isn’t so good at building muscle bulk or power, what it is great at is utilising your postural muscles. These are deep muscles that tend to be closer to the skeleton that hold us up against gravity and provide stability around the joints whilst we are moving.

Pilates is renowned for enhancing posture and muscle endurance, but does Pilates tone your body? To understand how effective Pilates is in body toning, a closer look at how Pilates influences muscle development and fat reduction is required.

​The most recent addition to my training repertoire is Yoga. There are many styles and lineages of Yoga that are beneficial to both the human body and the human experience. I have focused my practice on The Baron Baptiste Vinyasa style and decided to take the next step and complete his 200 RYT in February of 2019.

Many people find the best results come from a mix of both, which is why The Pilates Circuit incorporates both Reformer and bodyweight-based movement into personalized training plans.

If you have a layer of fat covering those muscles, then they won’t be as visible – giving the appearance of being “untoned”.

Strength training exercises help build muscle mass, while reducing overall body fat through a combination of a healthy diet and cardio exercises, can make muscles appear more toned.

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Not only are most moves cued from the centre, but there are many flexion exercises, meaning that strengthening the abdominals is part and parcel of a regular practice.”

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“Pilates works the body as a whole,” agrees Folkard. “Rather than isolating one or two muscle groups, it encourages two-way stretch and strengthening moves that engage many different muscles, creating a balanced workout and increasing muscle mass.”

Pilates can be a valuable component of a well-rounded fitness routine aimed at improving muscle tone, but it may be more effective when combined with other forms of exercise and a healthy lifestyle.

We’ve compared pilates and calisthenics, explained their benefits and how to incorporate both into your routine in our Pilates vs Calisthenics blog.

Being more aware of your body lets you use the right muscles during workouts, which makes them more effective and makes sure your body is working well to tone and shape.