INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines – Liposuction is all the rage these days but for the less-inclined, Pilates can offer women a surgery-free alternative.

Pilates, developed by Joseph Pilates during the World War I, is an exercise that focuses on core strength and flexibility. Marilen Concepcion, a certified Pilates instructor, said Pilates can produce better abdominal muscle tone resulting to a “streamlines and taller” appearance.

Best of all, Pilates can be done at home using a half-inch thick mat, said Concepcion.

“In Pilates, we really make you focus on engaging your core muscles that comprise of your abdominals and your inner deep back muscles especially in the lower and mid-back so that helps in improving your posture, helps keep your back strong, makes you feel taller because you have a better posture,” she explained.

She added: “It is advisable to still do some cardiovascular exercises in order to lose the pounds, which will make you also lose the flabs in your stomach.”

Concepcion also noted that Pilates is an exercise for all ages and for both men and women.

“The reason why it benefits a lot of people is because in Pilates when you move, you’re only going through the range of motion that your body can take. We don’t force you to go further,” she said during a discussion on Pilates held at R.O.X. in Bonifacio High Street.

Not only does it tone abdominal muscles, it also reduces back pains, decreasing the chance of osteoporosis. “Pilates is considered a mind and body exercise because of some resistance in the movements,” said Concepcion.

She also recommends Pilates for dancers and athletes engaged in different sports because it helps stretch muscles. “By doing so, it also helps them decrease the risk of injury because it strengthens the muscles surrounding the joints,” she said.