Posted By : Admin / On : April 11, 2024 / In : Health,Uncategorized
In a world where sedentary habits and prolonged sitting dominate our daily routines, it’s incredibly important we take steps to both preserve and improve our mobility. How do we do this? The simple answer is physical activity. However, the type and quality of our physical activity matters, and Pilates is a particularly effective form of movement when it comes to mobility. Throughout this article, we’ll examine exactly why mobility is so important and the ways Pilates can help.
To appreciate the positive effects Pilates can have on your mobility, we need to understand exactly why it is important. Of course, the benefits of being able to perform everyday tasks without pain or discomfort don’t really need an explanation. You only need to pull a muscle to recognise the consequences that compromised mobility can have in your daily life.
Yet, the advantages of mobility reach far beyond simply allowing you to perform everyday tasks, but because we tend not to notice mobility issues until later in life, they can often go unnoticed. For example, mobility is essential for our mental wellbeing, and studies have linked limited mobility to poor mental health, including symptoms of anxiety and depression. Mobility issues have also been associated with higher rates of diseases, hospitalisation, and even disability.
Whilst these consequences are concerning, we can minimise our risk through regular physical activity. Throughout the next section, we’ll look at some key reasons Pilates is one of the most effective forms of movement for enhancing mobility.
Pilates serves as a holistic form of exercise, engaging virtually every muscle group in the body. Its emphasis on functional movements—such as
rotation, extension, pushing, and pulling—mimics the activities we perform in our daily lives. Getting out of bed, sitting down, climbing stairs, and a host of other mundane activities use the same muscles that you will use in your Pilates class.
By training these movement patterns, Pilates enhances our ability to navigate daily tasks with efficiency and ease, thereby improving overall mobility. Its full-body approach not only optimises time efficiency but also ensures comprehensive muscle engagement for a well-rounded workout.
Core strength and stability are central to Pilates. By targeting the deep muscles of the abdomen, back, and pelvis, Pilates strengthens the foundation for all movement. A robust core not only supports the spine and pelvis but also enhances overall body control and coordination. This, in turn, improves balance, stability, and proprioception—key components of optimal mobility and injury prevention. With a strong core, you can move confidently and freely, reducing the risk of musculoskeletal issues and enhancing overall mobility.
Whilst flexibility and mobility are two distinct things, you can’t really have one without the other. Why? Flexible muscles improve how easily you can move your joints, meaning your flexibility has a direct effect on your mobility. Given your Pilates class will include a combination of stretching and lengthening exercises, your flexibility will improve overtime, which will therefore bolster your mobility.
Plus, Pilates exercises often target specific areas of the body prone to stiffness, such as the spine, hips, and shoulders, helping to alleviate tension and improve mobility in these areas.
Deep breathing techniques employed in Pilates can help release tension and promote relaxation in the body. When muscles are relaxed, they are better able to stretch and lengthen, increasing flexibility and mobility. Also, Pilates emphasises lateral breathing, which involves expanding the ribcage laterally and into the back as opposed to just the chest. This type of breathing promotes mobility in the ribcage and thoracic spine, enhancing overall spinal flexibility and movement capacity. This improved ribcage mobility can translate to greater freedom of movement in daily activities.
All-in-all, mobility is an incredibly important aspect of our day-to-day lives, and it’s crucial we incorporate exercises to sustain and improve it. By nature, Pilates is a wonderful form of movement for enhancing mobility, thanks to its focus on flexibility, breathwork, and more. Hopefully you are one of those many people who have benefited from a Pilates class, if not we would love to help
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