I’ve written about what Pilates is but I’d like to address the why. Why do I do Pilates and why should you?

Personally after 30 years of practicing Pilates I can say it’s a staple in my life. I never go long without it, and when I do I’m always reminded of how much better my life is when I practice it. I have had countless injuries from gymnastics, dance and life and Pilates has never failed to help me recover. I’m in less pain now then I was 10 years ago while still dancing and I’m sure without my regular Pilates practice that wouldn’t be the case. I’ve conquered sciatica, rotator cuff tears, a herniated disc and also manage my early arthritis pain with Pilates. I’m happy to continue looking fit but much more happy to be pain free and functional as I’m aging. It’s a workout and it’s also an invaluable part of my wellness overall.

So, why should you consider Pilates?  Maybe you feel you’re getting stiff with age?  Perhaps you think back pain is inevitable? Possibly you are doing a lot of exercise and stiff experience pain or have injuries that just won’t seem to go away?  You might have a sedentary job and have no movement in your daily life. You might hate the gym. You may feel like you aren’t coordinated or have poor balance. Possibly you are waiting until you’re “in better shape” before you begin?

I’m not exaggerating when I say that Pilates can help with all of these issues. Well, unless you wait for getting in shape before you start practicing! But truly, it will help with all of these issues. And let’s not forget stress. Do you ever feel stress?  Pilates is a meditative movement, you focus on breathing and moving mindfully and it will always relieve stress  if you’re willing to show up and move and breathe. It’s not going to magically give you enlightenment or a butt like Beyoncé. But it can transform your body, mind and life with consistent practice.

Consistency is key because you get out what you put in. One hour a week will not change your physical structure. Nothing is going to do that in one hour a week. Those stars you see who have toned and defined everything are doing Pilates many hours per week. But if so one hour a week consistently you will see changes. You will reap benefits. And if you do more you’ll see more results. That’s how everything works. So in this sense Pilates is not “magic”. But even one hour per week can greatly improve your body, mind and life and when you think of how you probably work 40 hours or more then one hour a week giving you results is pretty magical.

Even if doing regular sessions in the studio on the Pilates equipment isn’t something you can do that’s no reason to not do a few sessions at all. I’m happy to help you with a mat routine designed just for you that will address all of your needs that you can do at home.  I’m even available to do this via video chat online.

So really the question is why aren’t you doing Pilates?

Hanging like this has many benefits! Our shoulders are often very tight and we don’t get enough movement lifting up over our head. This means that our neck, shoulders and upper back are often very tight and compressed. Hanging on the Cadillac will stretch the shoulders and spine, decompressing the vertebrae and the discs. It can be challenging at first for your grip strength but that quickly becomes stronger and you become more confident and this exercise becomes very enjoyable. People often feel nervous at first but after a few times request it since it feels so good!

As kids we all hung from the monkey bars, climbed and jumped. As we get older we usually stop doing these things and our bodies get stiff and stagnant. With regular practice Pilates will help you feel younger and more mobile. Taking the body through all of the natural ranges of motion can both heal and prevent injuries. And it’s also fun and gives a sense of freedom and capability! Aging doesn’t have to mean losing physical abilities. When you do Pilates you will challenge strength, coordination and balance in a safe way. It’s never too late to restore your fitness or find it for the first time. You don’t have to suffer through boring or painfully strenuous routines. Pilates will be challenging but it also feels great to move and stretch and people have often said it’s like an active massage!

If you want to feel the joy of playing on the playground as a child give Pilates a try. You’ll be surprised how much fun hanging out on the equipment can be!

The Pilates equipment is truly amazing. Each machine offers a full body workout with an almost infinite number of exercises. And the real magic is the springs!

The springs are there to make difficult movements easier. They also add more challenge as you are ready for it.  If your back is tight the springs help you get a better stretch than you can get on a mat. If you’re struggling with arm strength we will start with a light spring and as you get stronger progress to a heavier one.

The springs mimic how our muscles work, lengthening and contracting through our range of motion.  You work against the springs to extend them out and resist their pull to work your muscles in both directions of movement. Healthy movement requires muscles to work in both a shortening and strengthening contraction and the springs give the body the feedback it needs to learn how to maintain strength and support through all kinds of movement. This means things like squatting down and standing up get easier.  You build the strength required to both lower yourself down with support and raise back up ease.

Pilates can look like some relaxing moves that stretch your muscles. But in reality the exercises all develop strength and flexibility for functional movement. They all provide your body with what it needs to be a healthy human able to do the things you need and want to do in life. The benefits go far beyond how you look. And in addition to helping you feel better they give your body the ability to maintain healthy movement now and as you age, improving your longevity.  And having a long life full of movement and freedom from pain is the best benefit Pilates can offer.

If  you want to find a workout that will help you look, feel and live better Pilates is perfect for you. Try it, you’ll be surprised how great exercise can feel… and you’ll love those springs!

This is a little example of some exercises for the spine. They are also “ab work” which Pilates is known for. And ab work is great but the real benefit of Pilates is the focus on the spine. So few fitness methods focus on the spine. And without a healthy spine nothing else in the body really stands a chance of moving well. These exercises give you a chance to move your spine in all the directions it can move and the springs give you help to articulate and move smoothly through each and every vertebrae. The spine is really a long chain of joints and those joints all need movement to keep the spine strong and supple.

If you exercise back pain or even just stiffness Pilates can really help. With regular practice you will get stronger, stand taller and be more able to do things in your life with more ease and joy. My clients report being able to get through a long workday without pain, gardening without suffering stiffness the next day and being able to return to physical activities that they’d had to give up due to chronic pain or injuries.

If you’ve had to give up activities that you loved or feel like your body is not feeling good after your workday Pilates can truly help you return to a pain free and capable life. Joseph Pilates titled his book “Return to Life” and it really is a the truth about his method. Pilates is such an amazing system that will do far more than “tone” and “firm”, it will give your body what it needs to do the things that you might have had to give up and even give you the capability to do things you never thought possible. Looking good, feeling good and moving well are all you have to gain, and pain and stiffness are all you have to lose!