Polates, a combination of pole dancing and pilates, is one of the best new and unique exercises for strengthening, toning, and energising the body. It’s accessible for both beginners and those who are already regulars at their local pilates classes. Polates may be low-impact, but just one session works out muscles all over your body! A typical polates class takes inspiration from various forms of strength training and cardiovascular exercises. Though there are many places to practice pilates, there are few studios offering polates workouts. Polates Perth, located in Osborne Park, is one of the best studios to visit for specialised polates classes led by professional instructors. It seamlessly blends different forms of fitness to create a distinctive workout that targets muscles, joints, posture, balance, flexibility, and weight loss.
Is Polates Cardio or Strength?
Pilates is primarily a strength-building form of exercise that focuses on flexibility and balance while also developing core muscles and improving pelvic floor health. Pole fitness is also a type of strength training because you need to be strong to hold yourself up on the pole while completing various exercises. However, the increased movement means it can also be classed as a form of cardio, elevating heart rates and increasing endurance.
Polates combines the two, creating a unique, full-body workout that uses a variety of different muscles. It follows the principles of traditional pilates but incorporates the pole to get the body moving more, rather than being resigned to the mat for the entire class. Though building physical strength is the primary goal of polates, it works the body from the shoulders down to the calves, which requires good cardiovascular endurance.
It’s the perfect workout for anybody who enjoys pilates but has been searching for something a bit more challenging. Polates is still fairly low-impact, and there are classes aimed specifically at beginners, but it increases the movement involved, which is where most of the cardio aspects factor in.
The Strength and Cardiovascular Benefits of Polates
Many mainstream strength and cardiovascular workouts are too high-impact and draining for many people. However, a polates workout is the perfect compromise for those who may not be as physically fit or able. And the more you learn, the more challenging your workouts can become! With a combination of strength and cardio training, the benefits are seemingly endless.
Toned Muscles
If you’ve ever tried regular pilates, you’ll know just how toned it can make you! Polates takes that strength-training element to the next level. The integration of the pole into a pilates fusion workout puts more pressure on the core, engaging the abdominal muscles while also building strength in the arms and back. Regularly attending polates classes ensures your muscles are being regularly worked and stretched, which will allow you to take on more challenging workouts!
Improved Flexibility
Pilates classes are a great way to improve flexibility. The poses, which can include back extensions, pelvic curls, roll-ups, and leg lifts, help muscles loosen up and stretch further, which becomes easier with practice. A polates workout takes that up a notch by utilising the pole to create more tension in the arm and leg muscles, encouraging them to work harder and become more flexible in less time.
Burned Calories
One of the main goals of a cardio workout is to burn calories, but you may be thinking that there’s no way pilates exercises can work your body enough to encourage weight loss. However, pole pilates is an excellent way to burn fat, so long as you attend regular sessions. Throughout a session, you’ll find yourself constantly moving! The pole helps work out muscles that mat pilates alone cannot, toning the body and aiding weight loss.
Enhanced Coordination
Being fit and strong means nothing if you don’t have the coordination to conduct an effective workout. Both pilates and pole dancing require an enormous amount of control, which you can develop by regularly attending polates classes. And as you enhance your coordination, you’ll notice the stretches and poses becoming easier. This helps to reduce the risk of injury and allows your muscles to fully benefit from the workout.
How Often Should You Do Polates?
Like any workout, polates will have a greater impact if it’s done often. We recommend attending one class per week to start with, then increasing that to two or three sessions after you’ve built up endurance. Incorporating pilates with a pole diversifies the workout and increases the speed at which you’ll see results.
We promise that you’ll begin feeling a difference after just one class, and there are plenty of different polates workouts to keep things interesting!
Train Strength and Cardio at Polates Perth
If you’ve been inspired to try out polates but don’t know where to begin, come to Polates Perth! We offer a wide range of pilates classes, with pole fitness and pole dance fusion incorporating greater strength and cardio exercises into the workout. Though the pole is used primarily for support during a pilates workout, it encourages muscles and joints to work harder and increases heart rate and endurance.
Polates Perth is home to many instructors with a unique knowledge of both pilates and pole fitness. People of all ages and abilities are welcome at polates classes, and the instructors will create inclusive sessions that work for everyone. If you’re located near North Perth, get in touch with Polates Perth and book your first class today!