Pilates - Adaptable For Every Body
Nov 15, 2020
What could an injured electrician, a woman in her 2nd trimester of pregnancy, an athlete preparing for a marathon and someone with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) possibly have in common?
On the surface, it would seem almost impossible to find anything these people would all have in common but if you dig a little deeper you will find something that links them all together.
They all rely on Pilates. Pilates means different things to different people and everyone that I've mentioned above has specific needs and requirements in order to maintain their health and fitness and Pilates can cater to all of these requirements. So let's take a look at some of the usual and not so usual ways that Pilates can be of enormous benefit to such a wide variety of people.
Prevent Injury with Pilates
On the surface, it would seem almost impossible to find anything these people would all have in common but if you dig a little deeper you will find something that links them all together.
They all rely on Pilates. Pilates means different things to different people and everyone that I've mentioned above has specific needs and requirements in order to maintain their health and fitness and Pilates can cater to all of these requirements. So let's take a look at some of the usual and not so usual ways that Pilates can be of enormous benefit to such a wide variety of people.
Prevent Injury with Pilates
I've always believed it's far better to prevent yourself from becoming injured wherever possible than to deal with an injury, just like the old saying, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you are a healthy person wanting to improve your physical fitness with a safe and effective exercise method that will future-proof you against injury, then Pilates is definitely for you. With its emphasis on developing core strength, improving posture and strengthening any individual weaknesses, in addition to improving body awareness and balance, Pilates really is the ideal way to guard against injuries. One of the amazing benefits of Pilates is that you can work to your own level of fitness. Have you been sedentary for too many years and need to start moving again? Then Pilates is for you. Do you currently participate in 3 or 4 sports and want to strengthen, stretch and challenge yourself in a new direction? Then Pilates is for you. It doesn't matter what your current level of fitness is, a Pilates program can be tailored to your individual needs. While I believe working towards preventing injury is the best policy, we all find ourselves facing the unexpected, so what happens if you do find yourself needing rehabilitation?
Rehabilitate with Pilates
A large proportion of my clients over the past 15 years started Pilates to rehabilitate from surgery, injury or illness. Originally the Pilates method was associated with rehabilitating injured soldiers returning from WW1 and injured dancers from the New York City Ballet during the 1920s. Today, Pilates is a widely accepted form of rehabilitation for people from all walks of life and professions for numerous conditions such as back pain including lumbar disc issues, sacroiliac joint pain and spondylolisthesis for example. It's equally as effective for foot, knee, hip and shoulder issues. Another advantage is that Pilates is an active modality, as opposed to a passive one such as physiotherapy or chiropractic for example. Many people enjoy and appreciate the empowering feeling of being able to take control of their own recovery through movement, under the guidance of their Pilates Practitioner as they regain their health and fitness.
Receiving an Unexpected Diagnosis
What do you do when you receive an unexpected diagnosis completely out of the blue that stops you in your tracks and forces you to re-evaluate your life?
Many people turn to Pilates to prepare them both physically and mentally for the challenges that lie ahead. This low impact method of movement is ideal for assisting people to get their lives back on track. If Pilates is currently part of your lifestyle, you already have the tools you need if you suddenly become ill, which is an advantage, but starting Pilates after you have been diagnosed is highly effective too. One of my clients who I'll call Jake started Pilates with me after a complete lifestyle change that saw him adopt a healthy diet, lose 20 kilos and re-introduce movement and exercise back into his life. Everything was going well for him at Pilates and he was playing squash and soccer but approximately 18 months after he started Pilates he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Fortunately, it was benign, but surgery was necessary and suddenly his training switched from being about preparing for sport and keeping back pain under control to preparing for surgery. Jake was warned his balance may be affected so we focussed on improving his balance as much as possible in the 3 weeks prior to surgery. The operation was very successful, but his balance was impacted quite severely and he suffered memory lapses. He was left to his own devices after the surgery and Pilates became his rehabilitation as Jake attended 3 sessions per week to re-gain his ability to balance and his strength in general. Jake was overjoyed at his progress 4 weeks later when felt like he was "back to normal." Pilates was many different things to Jake at varying stages of life, just as it can be for so many different people with a wide variety of needs.
High-Quality Pilates On Demand at JS Mind Body Pilates Online
The adaptability of Pilates is just one of the many aspects that I love about this unique method of exercise. When I created JS Mind Body Pilates, my Online Pilates studio, I designed it in exactly the same way I've offered Pilates to my clients in my bricks and mortar studio for the past 15 years. It starts at the very beginning with the basic foundations of breathing techniques and learning how to connect your abdominal muscles and progresses in a clear path forward. It caters to all levels of ability and is divided into 6 specific courses. Everyone has access to all courses so you can switch from one course to another as your needs change. Some people that have also benefitted enormously from Pilates include those dealing with Parkinson's Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoporosis and those who have lost limbs and the list goes on. Pilates provides possibility and allows you to reach your full potential regardless of the limitations you are facing.
To access JS Mind Body Pilates Online, take the free 10 day trial now. Alternatively, if you have any questions please don't hesitate to email me at [email protected]. Pilates really is for Every Body!
If you are ready to take control of your own health and fitness then download your free copy of my detailed guide.
Learn more about what sort of people benefit from Pilates and how it can help you too. I separate the myths from the facts and share actual case studies of my clients who have achieved life-changing results from my unique Pilates program.
