The common questions we get asked when we refer our clients for Pilates are always something like;  

 

 “What is Pilates” 

 

“Will it help my lower back pain”

 

“Will it help me perform better as an athlete”……but the underlying question on everyones mind will always be….”WHY PILATES”

 

 

Firstly a little background history on Pilates. 

 

Joseph H Pilates was born in Germany in 1880 and as a child suffered from asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever.  Joseph disciplined himself physically and overcame his aliments.  During his internment at the outbreak of WW1 he began his mat-work routine and later at another camp he began to help the rehabilitation of soldiers using their bedsprings for resistance. 

 

Pilates is a method of exercise that consists of low-impact flexibility and muscular strength and endurance movements. Pilates highlights the use of the abdominals, lower back, hips and thighs the “Core Muscles” of your body.  Pilates will improve your posture through shoulder stabilisation, make you feel mentally and physically relaxed and energised and provide you with permanent pain relief by addressing the cause, not the symptom by balancing muscular strength on both sides of your body.  Consequently Pilates is ideal for anyone suffering lower back pain, shoulder or hip pain.    Pilates will also enhance your balance and joint mobility while reducing stress and tension. 

 

 In the last decade top athletes and teams have utilised Pilates to supplement they training by developing strength and flexibility for optimal performance and hence reducing the risk of injury and correcting any muscular imbalances.  Regular practice has been shown to speed up event/training recovery by stretching muscles, strengthen muscles and improve proprioception.

 

 Winner of the Tour de France and British cyclist Chris Froome credits his success to Pilates; “One of the things I wanted to do was calm my upper body movement down and become more stable. Pilates core strengthening work has helped me with that.”

 

Regardless of your sport or what level you are at Pilates will help improve your sporting performance, prevent injuries and assist rehabilitation, aid strength and conditioning, improve flexibility, core and functional strength, co-ordination, balance and dynamic control.  All of these attributes are a necessity whether you are a club or county player, a professional soccer player, pro or amateur cyclist, golfer, boxer, rugby player, triathlete, track or distance runner, regardless of your sport in order to be the best you can and match your competition Pilates is a must in your weekly training plan. 

 

 Pilates will commence in DBSM Centre of Excellence on Wednesday evening 11/01/2017 @ 8pm, Contact DBSM on 047 85470 to secure your place.