Effects of training Pilates and Aerobic on happiness and desire for physical in inactive women

Balance between mental and physical health plays an essential role in happiness and desire for physical activities in individuals. On the other hand, Pilates and aerobic exercises play a pivotal role in creating balance between mental and physical health, in a way that sport activities could improve self-satisfaction and happiness. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of eight weeks of Pilates and aerobic exercises on happiness and desire for physical activities in inactive women. This quasi-experimental research was conducted on 40 inactive women in Tabriz, Iran in 2016. Subjects were selected through random sampling and were divided into four groups of control, Pilates, aerobic, and Pilates-aerobic program. In total, the participants attended 24 60-minute Pilates and aerobic sessions (three times per week) and filled the questionnaire of happiness and desire for physical activities before and after the intervention. It is notable that the reliability of the research tool was estimated at the Cronbach’s alpha of 0.93 and 0.87, respectively. In addition, data analysis was performed in SPSS version 20, and P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. According to the results of ANOVA and Tukey’s test, intervention caused a significant increase in both happiness and desire for physical activities in the subjects. However, there was no significant difference between the groups regarding the level of improvement. According to the results of the study, physical exercises and sports, specifically Pilates and aerobic exercises, are not only valuable tools for maintaining physical health, but also they have a close correlation with mental health and happiness of inactive women. Therefore, it is suggested that these types of activities be applied as a solution for creating and increasing a good mood in women’s society.