pilates improves your spring sports
Ski lift selfie in Vail--the best spring skiing. Vinyasa scarf by lululemon.
Despite skiing frequently in my childhood while living in Maine, I certainly did not consider myself to be an expert or even an avid skier. I lost touch with the sport in my teens and early adulthood and didn’t revisit skiing until after practicing Pilates for over 10 years. The difference in my skill level was astounding. Pilates, a method known for its focus on the core musculature, allowed me to control my skis better and turn more efficiently. I now ski with more confidence and dare I say coordination and grace.
Ski lift selfie in Vail–the best spring skiing. Vinyasa scarf by lululemon.
The above example shows how Pilates can enhance sports performance due to its functional carry over. In physical therapy, we use this term “functional” to describe exercises that mimic every day movements and activities from walking to climbing stairs. A simple example is squatting. Proper form in squatting fosters good lifting mechanics thus reducing the risk of low back injury. In my skiing example, Pilates exercises that isolate trunk movements using deep core muscles allow for smooth and efficient turning while skiing down the slopes (decked in lululemon of course).
The skills acquired through practicing Pilates regularly carry over into many popular spring sports. Here are more examples of how you can up your game with Pilates:
Golf and Tennis: Success in these sports requires a good amount of range of motion in the shoulders, hips and trunk. Pilates improves the mobility in those areas while teaching the body to maintain a level of motor control in order to prevent injury and improve swing efficiency. The results are greater power in trunk rotation, greater distance and better accuracy. When Tiger Woods was in his prime, Pilates powered his long and accurate drives. The method is now a staple fitness secret for many pro golfers and tennis players.
Join Dr. Megan Brown for Pilates for Runners April 18 at 4:15pm.
Running: Many Pilates mat moves carry over beautifully to increase your mileage and speed while reducing the risk of injury in distance running. Pilates can actually prevent and treat running-related injuries such as plantar fasciitis, runner’s knee and shin splints. Please join me for my Pilates for Runners Workshop at Mind the Mat on April 18th in order to improve your running mechanics!
Customized Mind the Mat Nike Shox from NikeiD and The Mat from lululemon are all the equipment needed for runners to reach their goals.
Cycling: The body spends a ton of time in a flexed position during long rides resulting in limited range of motion in the spine and tight hip muscles. Many Pilates moves help to counter this position while also teaching the spine how to stabilize and support the torso in a seated position. The improved seated core control allows for faster and more efficient revolutions at the pedal level. The results? Faster cycling with controlled energy expenditure all while reducing the risk for injury.
Continue to follow us here at Alexandria Stylebook for a series of sport-specific “functional” moves that will get your body mind and spirit ready for your favorite spring sports!
- About the studio
Mind the Mat Pilates & Yoga was founded in 2008 by Megan Brown, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Polestar Certified Practitioner of Pilates for Rehabilitation and Sara VanderGoot, Nationally Certified Massage Therapist and Registered Yoga Teacher (e-RYT 200, RYT 500). In their private practices as physical therapist and massage therapist respectively Megan and Sara observed that many of their clients were coming in with similar needs: relief for neck and shoulder tension and low back pain as well as a desire for more flexibility in hips and legs, stability in joints, and core strength.
Together Megan and Sara carefully crafted a curriculum of Pilates and yoga classes to address needs for clients who are pregnant, postpartum, have injuries or limitations, who are new to Pilates and yoga, and for those who are advanced students and are looking for an extra challenge.
2214 Mount Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301
703.683.2228
