Find Your Strength
Over the years, Pilates has gone from strength to strength across the globe – so much so, that it even has its own dedicated day every first Saturday in May. But, it’s not surprising when you consider just how many benefits Pilates has to offer. Here are five for starters…
1. Strengthens your core
One of the key benefits of Pilates is that is strengthens your core, a group of muscles that support and protection the spinal column. These core muscles, which comprise of your abdominal muscles, obliques, and back muscles, are activated every time you move your body.
2. Prevents lower back pain
If you’re ever suffered from pain in your lower back, you’ll know it’s no joke. And according to a 2014–15 survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, about 3.7 million Australians suffer from back problems. The good news: by strengthening your core muscles with posture awareness and a little help from Pilates, your back will less likely play up in the future, it will also help alleviate backache you may already be experiencing.
3. Low impact
Pilates is a series of fluid exercises and controlled movements that have very little impact on your joints. This makes the discipline an excellent option for the rehabilitation of injuries with well qualified instructors.
4. Posture awareness
A strong core helps you maintain good posture but a correct posture comes from developing a good habit. And there are plenty of benefits to walking tall: your muscles work the way they’re designed to, there’s less strain on your joints, and you’re able to get more air into your lungs.
5. Good for the body and mind
Pilates places a strong emphasis on correct breathing, which helps release stress from the body. But, more than that, it requires your full attention to execute each movement, which in turn affords full control of the mind and body.
What is the Elixr Pilates difference?
Elixr Pilates builds strength by promoting safe, effective and efficient exercises that help prevent injury. It is informed by three schools of thought:
- The inspiration (classical training) of Joseph Pilates.
- The science-based findings of Prof. Stuart McGill.
- The exercise science of Functional Movement Screen (FMS).
Joseph Pilates
Born in Germany in 1883, Joseph Pilates was a sickly child who, as an adult, looked to exercise as a way to improve his health. The result was Pilates, “a system of exercises using special apparatus, designed to improve physical strength, flexibility, and posture and enhance mental awareness.”
Professor Stuart McGill
As a retired Professor Emeritus at the University of Waterloo, Professor McGill has dedicated over 30 years of his life to researching and understanding the lower back. He has advised everyone from elites athletes through to governments and corporations and written several books.
Functional Movement Systems
The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is used to identify limitations or asymmetries in seven fundamental movement patterns – these are key to functional movement quality in individuals with no current pain or known musculoskeletal injury.
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PILATES?
We have two Pilates introductory courses this month that you can register for at elixr.com.au
