EveryBODY Needs Pilates

The Island Now

By David Wolk, owner of Club Pilates Syossset-Woodbury and Club Pilates Commack

Boutique fitness has taken on many forms of recent from cycling to rowing to HIIT, or high-intensity interval training.

But which one is right for you? The answer is whichever one makes you feel better.

The psychology behind exercise is extremely important. You are not going to continue to see and feel results if you are not enjoying the fitness. Finding the right form of fitness for you basically boils down to the one you most look forward to and have fun doing.

Pilates is a form of fitness that anyone can do. It’s for an individual looking to build strength, increase flexibility and improve range of motion.

In this day and age, with so many of us sitting at our computers all day, driving in our cars and hunched over our smartphones for too many hours, our improper body mechanics in hyperflexion, we are at risk of lower back pain. Pilates corrects this by exercising and lengthening the muscles that help lend support and strengthen the core.

It can also help improve your golf game, hone your tennis serve or just tone your entire body. Pilates is a true workout in every sense of the word.

As you gain core strength, improve your flexibility, and enhance the mind-body connection and coordination, the benefits ripple through your daily experience. This form of exercise creates a balanced life, with sustained energy through your whole day.

Pilates workouts are safe for any population, regardless of your current level of fitness. It is low-impact and utilizes slow and controlled movements. Those suffering from osteoporosis, arthritis, post-surgical operations, or simple “wear and tear” from years of sports and training will also benefit greatly from Pilates.

Different from yoga, where the body is placed in unique and unorthodox positions and held for extended periods of time, Pilates mimics movements we do in everyday life. From lifting items off the floor to carrying groceries from the car to even sitting in a chair at a computer, Pilates movements make these everyday activities more seamless.

One of the major concentrations of Pilates is balance with the support of good stability. This is crucial in preventing injuries and in aiding recovery.

Without incorporating these fundamentals, injuries are more likely to occur. In order to get the strength and tone that is ultimately desired, exercises, stretches and everyday motions are worked through with the correct muscle balance.

When the body is balanced, working out becomes more efficient and goals are achieved quicker. Strengthening your deeper muscles along with your smaller supporting muscles improves posture and rids the body of the lower back pain. Pilates allows a person to work out without creating further stress to imbalances.

Allowing everyone to customize their workout to their own level and desired goals is simply what Pilates does. No different than playing a musical instrument or learning to speak a language, Pilates is a craft that clients must practice to get better at.

As Joseph Pilates said, “You will feel better in ten sessions, look better in twenty sessions, and have a completely new body in thirty sessions.”

www.clubpilates.com/syosset-woodbury/

www.clubpilates.com/commack/

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