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While Pilates isn’t a high-calorie-burning workout on its own, having more lean muscle does help your body burn more energy—even at rest.

What people often refer to as “toning” is actually a combination of building muscle and reducing body fat to give the appearance of more defined muscles.

Begin alternating lifting your right arm and left leg, then your left arm and right leg in a swimming motion.

Unlike traditional workouts that mainly target superficial muscles, Pilates works on stabilizing muscles like the transverse abdominis, multifidus, and pelvic floor muscles.

So what do we mean by toned? The term ‘toned’ can have different meanings for different people. Some people use it to mean looking long and lean whilst others use it to mean having good muscle definition. We might also think of it as having a firmer body rather than a softer one.

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.

Whilst Pilates isn’t generally considered strength training, we do use resistance, particularly when using Pilates equipment. When you contract your muscles against resistance, your muscles communicate with your brain and vice versa.

If you’re new to Pilates, aim for 2-3 times a week to start and gradually increase as you become more comfortable with the exercises (5). If you have specific areas of your body that you want to tone, consider targeting those muscles more frequently within your weekly routine.

Similar to the one-on-one, the instructor is still able to give focused corrections. It can also be a fun way to practice with a friend, and can be scheduled according to your needs.

Tech neck, anyone? Yep – us too. Hours spent working on laptops and then evenings spent scrolling mindlessly on social media are wreaking havoc on our neck and back health, leading to postural issues such as neck humps and lower back pain.

Pilates emphasizes precision over momentum, which forces muscles to stay engaged longer. This time under tension helps develop muscle endurance and definition. Movements such as leg circles and roll-ups require sustained control, leading to greater muscle activation.

Nutrition: Your diet plays a big role in muscle definition. Eating enough protein, healthy pilates muskego fats, and complex carbs supports muscle repair and fat loss, revealing toned muscles faster.

"Extend the arms. Lift the opposite arm and leg whilst the chest lifts a little too. Quicken up the pace when you’re ready."

So, if you’ve been wondering whether Pilates can truly transform your body—the answer is yes. The only thing left to do is try it for yourself.