The Hidden Benefits of
Pilates
The beauty of Pilates is that it can be kept simple or made deeply
challenging, depending on your desire and ability to work differently. Many people are aware that Pilates helps to build core
strength, builds long, lean muscles for power and endurance, improves strength & flexibility, posture & alignment and decreases
back pain.
While these benefits are wonderful and amazing on their own, they
just scratch the surface. The real benefits go far beyond what most
people know. And for those who have persevered with their practice
and now ‘GET IT’, Pilates is now a lifestyle for them, not just an
exercise class to attend once or twice a week. Here is a more in
depth look at some of the deeper benefits you will receive if you
commit to the work of Pilates.
Lateral Breathing and Oxygenation
Returns One to Health
Let’s start by looking at the basic act of breathing. This simple function alone holds many benefits. In Pilates, we practice lateral breathing - meaning we aim to breathe 3-dimensionally (using the front,
the sides and the back of the body). Breathing in this way enables
you to maintain your abdominal (core) connections while still being
able to increase your lung capacity. This is important as it improves
your cardio function. Who doesn’t want their run, swim, cycle or
preferred exercise regime to feel easier just because they are breathing better?
Another important aspect of breathing is oxygenation (oxygen enriched blood cells). With a higher lung capacity, oxygenation to your
red blood cells is increased, resulting in the body’s ability to repair
tissue that has become damaged through tension or trauma. When
good connections are made and oxygenation is occurring, heat is
generated in the body. This heat increases our body’s ability to flush
toxins and begin healing.
When the client is generating heat in this way, we are shown where
the body ‘breaks’ (cannot provide muscular support). As a Pilates
teacher, we then coach the client to strengthen the correct, supportive muscles so the client will no longer collapse in these weak areas,
thereby improving movement patterns. We aim to teach the client
to embody the work; to work at a level where we coach life back
into the tissue of the body - we work to coach the breath.
Proper Movement Education Facilitates
Change Within the Body
Along with improving our breathing technique, movement education is another key benefit to Pilates. Precision is a major component
when practicing the Pilates repertoire. The work should be done to
find new movement patterns thus changing incorrect patterns that
cause tension within the
body. Muscle compensations are rebalanced
through eccentric contractions (a muscle contraction where the muscle
fibers lengthen) and concentric
contractions
(shortening of a muscle).
When this rebalancing is
found, the client is learnBy Christine Waterman
ing to decompress their
spine and their joints.
Tension is relieved and inflammation decreases. Not only are the
muscles rebalanced, but the structure of the body is also improved
(ligaments, tendons and organs).
Everyone has muscle memory and we all have movement patterns.
Not all of these patterns are good for us. If an incorrect movement
is repeated, a muscle imbalance is created. If this imbalance is allowed to continue, tension is created. Too much tension can lead to
strain or injury. This process can happen with an acute injury or take
years to develop. A young body can handle a certain amount of imbalance but 10, 20 or 30 years down the road and those imbalances
show up as aches and pains and old injuries can resurface. Retraining old muscle patterns is a journey. Learning to break an old habit
and replace it with a new, correct one takes time and consistent
work.
Improved Mental Health, Awareness and Focus
Pilates is not only good for the body, but good for the mind which,
in turn, is good for the soul. There is a challenge in the ability to
focus so deeply on oneself without the outside world breaking into
our thoughts. This focus provides relaxation and relieves stress
while increasing one’s coordination and mind-body connection
thus, returning clients to life.
Many of us identify ourselves by our injuries. When a mutual trust
between client and teacher is established and a client’s ability to
find the work improves, it teaches the client that they are much more
than their old injury or ai lment. Pilates can be practiced regardless
of age or fitness level. While Pilates is gentle enough to be used for
rehabilitation, it is also challenging. Pilates is a concept, an idea of
perfection. When you get it, you need to work at changing it. This
allows us to always stay curious and to never get bored with the
work. This is the journey of a lifetime.
The next article in this series will look at the principles of Pilates and explain why the fundamentals of the mat work are such an integral part of the system. If you have any questions
regarding anything mentioned within this article, contact Christine at the Pilates Tree
250-320-2639 or email [email protected].
Interior wellness | Winter 2014 | www.InteriorWellness.com 45