Pilates is a whole body workout that challenges you with low impact exercises. Pilates uses unfamiliar movement or movements that might be neglected in a unilateral sport. Many athletes today are turning to Pilates to improve their game. Why is Pilates a good form of exercise for athletes? Most athletes weight train so why do they find it beneficial to add Pilates to their fitness routine?
Athletes love Pilates because the focus is on postural alignment, so you move efficiently, which helps improve athletic performance. Pilates uses muscles that might be underused and helps build strength and flexibility as well as mobility. This low-impact form of exercise also helps improve core strength, which creates a strong body that can generate power when needed in sports. All athletes need strength, power, speed, agility, endurance, balance, coordination and flexibility.
Pilates exercises increase strength by moving through each movement with total control, which results in increased stamina. It also creates stability and a strong trunk that will help with energy transfer. Power is a combination of strength and speed, and Pilates tempo changes can support an athlete’s need for explosiveness.
Using this system of exercise strengthens the body overall with an aim to reduce pain and stiffness which can help improve overall movement. The more efficient you move, the better you will be at all aspects needed for a specific sport. Additionally, athletic training is often intense and can sometimes lead to injuries. Pilates helps work the smaller muscles that stabilize the spine and support the joints. This can help counter the negative effects of repetitive movement and help with or prevent injuries.
Balance, coordination, and flexibility are in every move in Pilates. Good balance helps connect all the Pilates principles, and balance will help with control in all sports.
Coordination is also a must and involves combining multiple movements with smooth and efficient transitions. In Pilates, you are always coordinating the movement with the breath or dual tasking during an exercise, such as stabilizing the spine while moving your arms and legs.
Finally, flexibility is important in all sports. When a muscle is tight, it can cause misalignments in your body. Athletes move in unique ways, and if an athlete is tight, the body will compensate, leading to imbalances and making them more prone to injury.
Every movement will feel better, and there will be less risk of injury if you have adequate dynamic flexibility and mobility to increase range of motion. Being inflexible will prevent an athlete from peak performance, and the brilliance of Pilates is that it is a method that can help with all of the aforementioned.
Quality of movement is important for athletic performance and overall health. The way we move throughout our day is important, and if we move properly, this will impact how we feel. Pilates will have you moving in ways you don’t move in your sports training, and it is a great way to rebalance your body. No matter how challenging your sport gets, you will never be thrown off balance.
Kommentare