Why pilates is getting popular again among work-from-home professionals in Singapore
Personal trainer Jeremy Lee explains how the fitness sport is making revival as people seek better core strength, flexibility and mobility
SINGAPORE — For fitness trainer Jeremy Lee, pilates and keeping an active lifestyle have helped him with functional scoliosis since his teenage years.
To address the imbalance in his muscular strength, he had picked up different exercises, before realising pilates worked best in rectifying his improper movement patterns, and body alignment.
Since then, pilates has become a big part in his fitness journey, which includes weightlifting and HIIT (high-intensity interval training).
In an interview with Yahoo Southeast Asia, Lee shed light on new fitness trends in Singapore, why more people are picking up pilates again, and the pressures of a job in the fitness industry.
Why more people are interested in pilates and new fitness trends
In recent years, Lee has noticed more people taking charge of their own health. "People want to build a stronger body and core, with better mobility in their joints," he said.
He feels that, due to more prevalent work-from-home arrangement in recent years, many working professionals may be feeling that the "excessive amount of sitting in front of a screen" will eventually take a toll on their backs.
Here is where pilates come in. The system of exercises, which sometimes can include the use of an apparatus, helps build a stronger body by targeting core strength, flexibility and joint mobility.
And pilates is enjoying a revival among the fitness-minded people in Singapore - in particular, more men are expressing interest in a fitness sport that had been more popular with women in the past.
Lee said that this stems from a bigger desire among men to strengthen their core and work on hip mobility, so they can better enjoy and engage in doing physical tasks and sports.
How he helps clients achieve different fitness goals
As a fitness trainer, the fitness goals of clients are a priority, and this means that trainers like Lee have to be very versatile to provide what they need to reach their goals.
Besides planning their fitness regimens, Lee also has to create diet plans for clients interested in managing their weight. This means looking into what they are currently eating, and suggesting a better nutrition plan to help get them to their target weights.
On the other hand, those looking to gain lean mass should ensure sufficient amount of protein intake in their diet. Lee also advises having "sinful" food in moderation.
"I think a lot of people need to know that other than exercising, they have to look into their diet. Nutrition is so important for you to make sure that your workout is effective," he said
"It's all about counting your (macronutrients). I always say you have to balance what you need, to find a purpose in the nutrition."
For clients who are not too concerned over weight management, Lee will work on core strength, joint mobility, and muscle flexibility for injury prevention, and that's where pilates and targeted mobility exercises can be done. Likewise, for those who do not like high impact or high intensity workouts, Lee recommends opting for low impact options such as pilates and yoga
"I believe that all different fitness methods are good for anyone, you just need to find what works best for your body," he said.
Living up to the pressures of the job
As a trainer who teaches a wide spectrum of clients, Lee needs to make sure he engages in a lot of self practice himself, in order to effectively teach and challenge his clients.
Self-training practices he cannot neglect include weightlifting and pilates, which help to upkeep his flexibility and joint mobility, as well as overall personal fitness.
"I have to walk the talk, right? Because I am a big foodie, I take it upon myself to exercise regularly to make sure that the calories I take in and put out are balanced out, to stay in shape," he said.
Lee also has to ensure he learns how to conduct exercises correctly, so he can spot and accurately explain how they should feel to clients.
Lee strives to "always be a student" in his decade-long personal trainer journey.
"My clients are the best teachers, I always learn so much from them. I change my programme to fit their fitness goals through continual feedback, which helps me to grow as a fitness professional."
Lee was previously featured as Yahoo Singapore's #Fitspo of the week in May 2021.
