Strength training and Pilates are very different forms of exercise, however, because they are both forms of resistance training, they work very well in conjunction with one another. Both forms of training build muscular strength, stability, and endurance, however, each has its own benefits independently. Utilizing Pilates as a full body strengthening session paired with traditional strength training on separate days can help to maintain postural awareness and low-level muscle activation. While strength training focuses on gaining muscle mass, Pilates emphasizes muscle lengthening and toning. By combining these two methods, you can increase muscle strength and flexibility.  Pilates also focuses significantly on core strength which is crucial for stability, balance, and injury prevention increasing the performance of the entire body. In addition to this, an important factor in women’s health that is often not talked about enough is pelvic health. Pilates has been shown to improve the strength of the pelvic floor complex due to the emphasis on incorporating a natural breathing pattern into Pilates movements and the connection between the deep core muscles and the pelvic floor. By incorporating this breathing pattern and learning to properly engage your core muscles, any exercise can strengthen the deep core and pelvic floor muscles, including strength training alongside Pilates.