Pilates is having a moment…again.
I have to say, I was pretty glued to my TV during the Olympics. I would go home anticipating what was going to be shown on primetime and would scroll through short videos of the events that didn’t make prime time. I love watching people move and seeing so many different types of athletes doing so many different sports is like Christmas to me. I love to think about what their training and recovery looks like. Sometimes, I even look them up to see if Pilates is a part of their routine. More and more professional athletes are recognizing the benefits of this form of cross training to keep them at peak performance for their sports. In fact, check out this article from the New York Times,
“Getting to the core of why NFL players love Pilates”,
about why professional football players are discovering the benefits of a regular Pilates program too!
While it may sound cliche - Pilates really is for everyone! In my 17 years of teaching I have not encountered a single client who has not been able to participate in Pilates. It can be supportive and gentle, a kick ass workout and everything in-between.
What I have been reminded of recently is that Pilates is a system - not just individual exercises on cool equipment but a system meant to challenge, support, and strengthen the body. After having the opportunity to be at “Pilates camp” and practice Pilates all day for 9 days I was transformed. So many of my chronic aches and pains went away and I felt re-energized to make Pilates a part of my daily routine instead of just a few times a week.
To get the most out of your Pilates practice here is what we recommend:
Mix it up - look for classes that are mixed equipment and offer opportunities on the mat, chair or tower system to augment your reformer routine
Commit - 2-3 days a week is the minimum recommended frequency if you are trying to make a change in your body
Maintain - take advantage of our short YouTube workouts to keep up the good work even when you aren’t in the studio
Use Pilates as a recovery tool - if you are healthy and un-injured you may not need a recovery day between Pilates sessions. Use your classes or private sessions as a recovery day from your more intense workouts.