If you believe that your legs will only become stronger if you do squats or lift heavy weights, then you are wrong. Using a simple Pilates routine with only your bodyweight can make your legs look beautiful and mighty too. A short 10-minute Pilates routine for the whole lower body was a real eye-opener for me—I performed only 9 exercises, but boy did they burn.
Maybe you are a runner or a cyclist, maybe you are considering building your body in such a way that it will be functional; or maybe you are short of time and one of your fitness priorities is to slip in a lower-body stage. Pilates has become one of the smartest additions to your fitness line of tools with no sweat.
How Pilates is Effective for Strengthening the Legs
The great thing about Pilates is that it activates not only the superficial muscles but also the deep ones, such as the stabilizer ones which, apart from their well-being role, are particularly essential for balance, coordination, and injury prevention. In only 10 minutes, you will have to make sure that you execute each exercise with the correct ratio of strength and core support.
Whereas previously you were used to lifting heavyweight, here, it’s slow and controlled motions that create tension, such as slow, deep range squats, lunges, and pulses. This method of working out helps you not overdo the strength exercises and at the same time still keeps the joint safe and therefore is the most suitable for those in the early stages of exercise, busy professionals, or people with injuries who are still in rehabilitation.
It is very important to have a personal trainer who at least monitors and follows you if you are going to Pilates for the first time or if you are deciding to come back after several months of inactivity. A small exercise change can have a high impact on your body’s safety and the results you will get at the end of the process.
What’s Included in the 10-Minute Pilates Leg Workout?
The lower body exercise as crafted by Pilates instructor Lilly Sabri is rather plain and simple and is, therefore, different from the others. You are to perform nine different tasks and each of them will last for one minute with a 10-second rest in between. You will not need any dumbbells, kettlebells, or ankle weights, just the resistance of your body and a little bit of perseverance are required.
The program is made up of the most common lower parts of Pilates motions like standing lunges, squats, and pulses. At the end of the workout, you will have to transition to the floor to do a couple of exercises that will make your lower body burn. It’s a well-thought-out process that keeps you involved and gives you energy without being overwhelming.
In the course of the exercise, the proper technique plays an important role. Sabri gives some valuable advice from time to time and demonstrates the variations for the beginners which makes the workout suitable for a broad range of fitness levels.
What Are the Positive Sides of This Fast Pilates Leg Routine?
One of the main advantages of the Pilates leg workout is that it works on your core just as much as it does on the legs. When doing a Pilates workout, it is essential to engage your core muscles in order to keep the posture and the alignment of your body right. Especially during the exercises that are done while standing, the abdominal muscles play a significant role, thus correcting the body’s posture and allowing the person to exercise the core better.
It may sound strange to others, but the legs with Pilates that could correct minor or major imbalances in the muscles. One very common mistake made by many people is that they often give more work to one side of the body than to the other causing every joint to be loaded in an asymmetric fashion. Consequently, they run the risk of experiencing an injury. By not allowing your muscles to be under any heavy load, Pilates makes sure everything is symmetrical and that every joint is safe.
It is important to observe that the type of training described goes further than strength training; it also promotes flexibility, balance, and coordination, which are all essential for everyone regardless of being an athlete or not. If you are moving groceries, climbing stairs or even running behind your kids, your mechanics of motion point out the fact that daily activities can be easier and safer.
How I Felt After Doing This 10-Minute Pilates Leg Workout
I started this activity believing that 10 minutes would not be adequate to have any impact. But I was wrong. My quads and glutes were burning halfway through the routine, and at the end, I felt that trembling in my legs that only emerges when you really strain the muscle.
One aspect that I found very interesting was the fact that every exercise move seemed tactful. I had no choice or room for rushing or using momentum. The only thing I had to do was to perform slower and percussive squats, and lunges. This was a revelation that the workout could be more effective only by being slower.
Psychologically, it was easy to handle at the same time because of the short, clean breaks. On a day filled with meetings 10 minutes were still manageable. I also was satisfied with the fact that it was an equipped-free workout and I only needed a yoga mat and some space to clear so that I could move.
The Last Word
Granted, you seek the best way to build the strength of the muscles in your legs, improve your balance and finally also do this with a minimal amount of time in the gym? Well, then, this 10-minute Pilates video is just your right fit. It is an amazing method to get stronger and activate your hidden, unworked muscles by using traditional weightlifting.
Next time, when a workout tempts you to give it a pass because of time constraints, remember that all you need to do is put a mat on the floor and start the workout. But the warning stands that you are likely to feel the results afterwards, especially every time you sit down for the next few days.