Pilates for Lowering Cortisol and Fighting Belly Fat
- Elena Zwetsloot
- Sep 7
- 1 min read
Many women in their 40s and 50s notice it: despite eating healthy and exercising, stubborn belly fat seems harder to lose. One of the biggest culprits? Cortisol, also known as the stress hormone.
👉 What is cortisol? Cortisol is a hormone produced by your adrenal glands. In short bursts, it’s very useful: it gives you energy in the morning, helps you respond to stress, and keeps blood sugar levels stable. But when cortisol stays too high for too long — often due to chronic stress, lack of sleep, or even overtraining — it can lead to weight gain (especially around the belly), increased cravings, poor digestion, and fatigue.
✨ This is where Pilates can help. Unlike high-intensity workouts that may raise cortisol even more, Pilates focuses on controlled movement, mindful breathing, and balance. Research shows that mind-body practices like Pilates and yoga can help lower cortisol and improve overall stress resilience.
💪 How Pilates Helps
Mindful breathing calms the nervous system and lowers stress signals.
Core-focused moves strengthen deep abdominal muscles, improving posture and stability.
Low-impact strength training tones muscles without spiking stress hormones.
Consistency supports hormone balance and a more efficient metabolism.
By combining gentle strength work with stress-reducing breath and movement, Pilates not only tones your body but also helps fight one of the root causes of belly fat: stress.
👉 And the best part? In our classes, we use weights, the Pilates bar, and the magic circle, giving you the perfect mix of relaxation, strength, and balance to support both your body and your hormones.
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