Pilates is something users tend to stay with for decades. The great advantage of Pilates is that it can be adapted to every stage of your life. It can be used by young people at the peak of their fitness but also for rehabilitation after injury, coping with and recovering from pregnancy, treating bad backs and poor posture as we age, maintaining bone density and remaining flexible and reducing the risks of falling in later life.
High-Intensity Sport
Most sports have a cut-off point. Footballers retire in their thirties as do the players of high-impact sports like rugby or American football. Amateur five-a-side players, tennis players and cricketers might last into their forties, joggers and long-distance runners go on for longer, but there comes a time when the aches and pains of high-intensity sport become too much. Bad backs, joint pains and muscle strains or injuries are a particular bugbear of the active but ageing athlete.
But Pilates is different to the gym, a series of low intensity but demanding exercises that can be adjusted to suit the user throughout their life. It is about building core strength through control and concentrates on smaller often neglected muscle groups as well as the more obvious ones. It should result in long-term gains rather than a quick fix with problems returning later. Working against resistance on the mat or Reformer, Pilates will provide steady improvement. Whereas over time, high-impact exercise routines can take a big toll on ankles, knees and spinal discs.
Relationship with the Body
Users stay with Pilates because it changes their relationship with their body. Misalignments are corrected, posture improved, and users find themselves standing taller and thinking about the way they move not just in the studio but in their everyday lives. Instead of slouching over a desk, you will be applying thought to the way you sit and move. A famous quote from Joseph Pilates states: “You will feel better in ten sessions, look better in twenty sessions and have a completely new body in thirty sessions.”
Rather than just treating, say, a bad back, with time Pilates will improve the stabilising muscles of the abdomen, lower back and pelvic floor and help to prevent future mishaps. Regular work is a great insurance policy against all kinds of ailments as we get older.
Mental Benefits as you Age
There are mental benefits to doing Pilates whatever your age. Concentrating on breathing and mindful movement can reduce stress and become a kind of moving meditation. Joseph Pilates said that his system was, “the complete coordination of body, mind and spirit.” Some might call this cognitive focus, others think of it as something more spiritual. You will be in the moment concentrating on your breathing and movement rather than stressing about everyday worries.
Pilates is infinitely adaptable. As well as the Reformer and mat exercises, the Wunda chair and the Cadillac can be used for exercises. Pilates balls, bands and rings can also be added to your routine. It can be as difficult or easy as required and change as your body does. Once people try Pilates, they tend to get hooked, and with good reason. Not many exercises can provide so many benefits throughout your life.
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The Pilates Central Team
