Spring session is over and the daunting summer (without community ed classes) is upon us (stillll waiting to find out if we will have a summer session). In the spirit of keeping your interest in Pilates on a high level I would like to share this article from Balanced body highlighting the "Benefits of Pilates"
The Benefits of Pilates
Pilates can really make a difference in your health without taking a toll on your body.
A refreshing mind-body workout
By emphasizing proper breathing, correct spinal and
pelvic alignment, and concentration on smooth, flowing movement, you
become acutely in tune with your body. You actually learn how to control
its movement.
In Pilates the quality of movement is valued over
quantity of repetitions. Proper breathing is essential, and helps you
execute movements with maximum power and efficiency. Last but not least,
learning to breathe properly can reduce stress.
Develop a strong core - flat abdominals and a strong back
Pilates exercises develop a strong "core," or
center of the body. The core consists of the deep abdominal muscles
along with the muscles closest to the spine. Control of the core is
achieved by integrating the trunk, pelvis and shoulder girdle.
Gain long, lean muscles and flexibility
More conventional or traditional workouts are
weight bearing and tend to build short, bulky muscles - the type most
prone to injury. Pilates elongates and strengthens, improving muscle
elasticity and joint mobility. A body with balanced strength and
flexibility is less likely to be injured.
Create an evenly conditioned body, improve sports performance, and prevent injuries
In the same vein, a lot of these same conventional
workouts tend to work the same muscles. This leads weak muscles tend to
get weaker and strong muscles tend to get stronger. The result is
muscular imbalance - a primary cause of injury and chronic back pain.
Pilates conditions the whole body, even the ankles
and feet. No muscle group is over trained or under trained. Your entire
musculature is evenly balanced and conditioned, helping you enjoy daily
activities and
sports with greater ease, better performance and less chance of injury. That’s why so many
professional sports teams and elite athletes now use Pilates as a critical part of their training regimen.
Learn how to move efficiently
Pilates exercises train several muscle groups at
once in smooth, continuous movements. By developing proper technique,
you can actually re-train your body to move in safer, more efficient
patterns of motion - invaluable for injury recovery, sports performance,
good posture and optimal health.
It’s gentle…
Many of the exercises are performed in reclining or
sitting positions, and most are low impact and partially weight
bearing. Pilates is so safe, it is used in physical therapy facilities
to rehabilitate injuries.
But it’s also challenging…
Pilates is also an extremely flexible exercise
system. Modifications to the exercises allow for a range of difficulty
ranging from beginning to advanced. Get the workout that best suits you
now, and increase the intensity as your body conditioning improves.
