Pilates is one of the best workouts you can do to strengthen and tone your body. It’s a full body workout that improves posture, balance, and flexibility, and also has incredible benefits for your mental health. If you’re looking to tone your body, especially your arms, doing regular Pilates workouts is a great way to reach your fitness goals. While getting into the Pilates studio is always amazing, we’ve rounded up 8 Pilates arm workouts you can do at home!
What Is Pilates?
Pilates is a full body, low impact exercise that strengthens your muscles while improving alignment and flexibility. It also increases mobility and balance, decreases stress, and helps prevent injury. Pilates focuses on all of the muscle groups from big to small without using heavy weights. This allows you to gain lean muscle rather than bulk. There’s a strong emphasis on core stability and strength, although it also targets muscles in the arms, back, and legs. Pilates can be done with or without equipment and features slow, concise movements with a focus on breath control. It encourages mind-body awareness and has also been found to be extremely helpful for your mood and mental health.
What Are the Benefits of Pilates?
- Improves flexibility and mobility
- Increases muscle strength and tone
- Better core strength
- Improves posture and balance
- Decreases back pain
- Helps prevent injury
- Decreases stress and anxiety
- Boosts your mood and mental health
- Increases energy
4 Pilates Arm Workouts with Weights
1. 10 Minute Pilates Arm Workout | Quick Upper Body Workout with Light Weights | Club Forme Pilates and Barre
Choose some light dumbbells and follow along with this 10 minute arm workout that will tone and strengthen your arms. Make sure your arm muscles are switched on throughout the entire workout, giving yourself lots of resistance. She suggests pretending you’re moving your arms through melted chocolate or cheese. You’ll feel an insane burn in your arms, as well as your chest, shoulders, and upper back!
2. 15 Min Lean Arms Pilates Workout | Light Hand Weights | Sanne Vloet
This 15 minute arm workout is challenging and so effective! These exercises work your arms and shoulders to help improve your strength and posture. Watch her technique for each of the movements to ensure you’re getting the most out of this workout. All you need is a pair of light hand weights for this routine!
3. 10 Min Pilates Arm Workout | Light Dumbbells | No Pushups | fitbymik
Looking to tighten and tone your arm muscles? This Pilates arm workout is for you! You’ll work your shoulders, triceps, and biceps with high reps and light weights, so grab a pair of light dumbbells. She brings you through exercises like shoulder circles, pulses, chest presses, and more, so get ready to feel the burn!
4. Tone Your Arms in 14 Days | Lean & Slim Pilate Sculpt | 8 Min Workout | Lilly Sabri
This 8 minute Pilates arm workout will tone and sculpt your arms giving you a slimmed out upper body. It’s a short yet intense workout that targets the muscles in your arms to burn arm fat. Grab a pair of light dumbbells, or you can use a water bottle or canned food if you don’t have them. You’ll do exercises like tricep dips, arm lifts with bicep curls, and front raise twists.
4 Pilates Arm Workouts without Weights
1. 5 Min Everyday Pilates Arm Workout | Short & Effective Toned Arm Workout (No Equipment) | Lidia Mera
This 5 minute arm burn is the perfect quick workout to do in the morning or at night before bed. It’s short yet effective and features arm raises, arm circles, shoulder taps and more. Regularly doing these isolated arm movements will have your arms looking super toned in no time. Grab an exercise mat and get those arms working!
2. 10 Minute No Weights Arm Workout- Old School Arm Workout | Club Forme Pilates & Barre
No weights are needed for this arm sesh, just your bodyweight! Your arm muscles should be fully engaged throughout the entire workout, so make sure you’re giving yourself that resistance. The goal is to keep your arms up through the whole standing series, but if you need to take a quick break, go for it and then jump right back in! She gives you her best tips to get the best out of each exercise so you really feel that burn.
3. Tone Your Arms Workout | No Equipment | Move with Nicole
Move with Nicole is one of the most popular Pilates channels on Youtube, and in this video she offers a quick and intense 10 minute workout that will tone and sculpt your arms. Since it requires no equipment, you can do this workout from anywhere! You will need a workout mat as she does some floor exercises.
4. 10 Minute Toned Arms Workout | No Equipment | Arm Workout for Women 10 Mins | The Girl with The Pilates Mat
This quick 10 minute arm workout will create great muscle tone and strength in the arms, shoulders, and upper back. And it doesn’t require any equipment! It’s a simple and effective workout that will bring results if you do it regularly and consistently. She recommends doing this workout at least 3 times a week for the best results!
These pilates arm workouts will tone, strengthen, and sculpt your arms. Work them into your regular workout routine and watch your arms transform.
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