The main focus of Pilates is to restore and improve good movement, working on strengthening and lengthening the muscles of the body as well as releasing and rebalancing the myofascia which promotes healthy movement. Pilates will improve your posture, allowing you to stand tall and be less prone to aches and pains.
Core stability
For the spine to be healthy it needs to be in a balanced state. Pilates helps by strengthening and balancing the muscles which support the spine and by encouraging good alignment.
Having a strong centre allows you to move with more stability, balance and flexibility. The Pilates system also helps to ensure that no particular muscle group is overworked and in doing so further helps your posture and limits muscle fatigue and soreness.
In conditioning the whole body, Pilates is beneficial for many musculo-skeletal disorders, and in particular back, shoulder and neck, knee and hip problems. Attention is paid to joint alignment, ensuring that the least amount of stress is placed on supporting muscles and ligaments.
Become body-aware
Through regular practice of Pilates you will become more body-aware and will begin to bring its principles of core control, alignment and coordination into your everyday life.
Pilates is now recommended by many physiotherapists, osteopaths, GPs and chiropractors.
For details of Core Pilates classes with Penny Little click here.
Pregnancy
Pilates is a wonderful form of exercise during and after pregnancy. The exercises focus on strengthening the deep abdominal and pelvic floor muscles (the ‘core’) which help support the back and growing bump. Working the core muscles can help prevent back & pelvic pain, increase mobility, aid delivery and help with recovery. Pilates can also help prevent a wide ‘diastasis recti’ – the separating of the abdominal muscles – which can weaken the back.
Postnatally, Pilates can help you regain strength in the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles.The exercises are fun, safe, and combine a breathing technique to aid relaxation.
Pilates is suitable after the twelfth week of pregnancy and from 6 weeks postnatal. Private sessions are also available and are advised if you are new to Pilates or if you have any back problems.
Penny is a trained pregnancy Pilates instructor. Click here to read Penny’s article on antenatal Pilates.
Pilates can help with the following conditions:
Arthritis
Muscle aches & pains
Reduced mobility
Hypermobility
Osteoporosis
Osteopenia
Back pain
Shoulder injury / neck tension
Poor muscle tone
Frozen shoulder
Knee problems
Poor posture
Disc problems
Joint problems
Scoliosis
SI joint problems
Repetitive Strain Injury
Runners injuries
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Balance problems
Recovery from injury
Support for any training programme
Pilates can also help indirectly with:
Digestive problems
Relaxation
Sleep quality
Breathing
Asthma