How To: Pilates for Pilates AND for Everything Else
I know, I know, another Pilates appreciation post!
In my last post, I spoke to how I found Pilates and the gratitude I have for finding a movement modality that allows me to feel good moving in my body daily, and gives me a vocabulary to share that movement love with you. In this post, I am digging a little deeper into why you might do Pilates REGULARLY, if not daily, in order to feel better doing the other movements you love.
Pilates is the perfect exercise to do all on it's own, but even 10-15 mins of Pilates 2-3x/week can make a HUGE difference in the way your body feels in other types of movement. Whether your off-the-mat workouts be athletics like running or biking, or functional movement like chasing after toddlers all day long, you need core strength and agility to be your healthiest self.
Case Study: You used to play team sports in high school or college and maybe now you mostly run on the weekends or take a high-impact class like Barry’s or Boxing every once in a while. This was no issue for a long time, but now that tweak in your knee isn’t going away, or your hips feel tighter than ever. You know you need to stretch, but you’re not sure where to start…enter Pilates!
If some version of this sounds like you, you’re not alone! Going from the couch to running a 5k without preparing or cooling down the body properly just won’t cut it as you get older. That said, you don’t need to add a ton more time to your routine. If you start doing 10-20 minutes of mat Pilates 3x/week, you will absolutely start to see gains in your flexibility and strength to help you with your athletic performance in all your favorite ways to move.
Why?:
Core Strength: Pilates utilizes bodyweight resistance training and breath to strengthen your core. Every exercise we do in Pilates is a core exercise, so even a tricep press can be core exercise with the right focus and control. When you learn how to move from your core in Pilates, your core will work to support your back and hips, and you’ll place less pressure on your joints in more athletic movements.
Active Flexibility: Pilates is an extremely efficient workout because it focuses on active flexibility (end range muscle activation,) which means you’re creating stronger and more flexible muscles at the same time.
Application: Runners, for example, need full range of motion and strength through their stride, and a strong core to support. A move like glute bridge will help build core and glute strength while increasing hip mobility and hip flexor and quad flexibility. So doing 10 glute bridges before your run will activate your core, warm up your hips and glutes, and stretch your quads and hamstrings, all in one move. We love efficiency!!!
This month, I’ll be releasing a series of shorts helping you do Pilates for whatever sport you love. Ex: Pilates for Running, Pilates for Tennis, Pilates for Golf.
I love Pilates and I’m glad it’s something I can do every day if I want to. But I like to move in more dynamic ways, and I know Pilates with help you do that, too!
