Functional Pilates: Elevating Your Everyday Life with PBB

When you think of Pilates, you might picture graceful movements on a mat or intricate exercises using specialised equipment. While these traditional forms of Pilates have been a staple in fitness routines for decades, there's been a new kid on the block for quite some time now: Functional Pilates. Paola's BodyBarre has been at the forefront of this movement, redefining the way we approach Pilates to enhance daily life.

Evolution of Pilates
Pilates, originally developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century, was primarily focused on improving flexibility, strengthening the core and promoting overall body control. Traditional Pilates exercises often involve precise and isolated movements, which undoubtedly deliver results. However, as fitness science progressed, so did our understanding of the body's needs.

Functional Pilates represents the natural evolution of this discipline. It takes the principles of traditional Pilates and merges them with functional movements that mimic real-life activities. The emphasis is on building a body that not only looks great but also performs exceptionally well in our day-to-day life.

Benefits of Functional Pilates
Improved Posture: Functional Pilates helps correct postural imbalances caused by modern sedentary lifestyles. It focuses on strengthening the muscles responsible for maintaining good posture, which is crucial for preventing back pain and maintaining a healthy spine.

Enhanced Core Strength: While traditional Pilates certainly works the core muscles, functional Pilates takes it a step further. It targets the core muscles in a way that mimics how they're used in everyday activities like lifting, bending and twisting, making you more resilient in daily life.

Increased Overall Body Stability: Functional Pilates engages multiple muscle groups simultaneously, improving overall body stability. This added stability can prevent injuries and enhance your ability to perform various physical tasks with ease.

Our Favourite Functional Exercises:
Paola's BodyBarre offers a range of functional Pilates exercises designed to elevate your everyday life. Some of the standout moves include:

Bridge: This exercise strengthens your glutes and lower back, improving posture and stability for activities like standing and walking.

Plank Variations: These not only build a strong core but also help with lifting and carrying objects.

Squat and Reach: A functional movement that mimics picking up items from the floor or reaching for objects on high shelves.