Before I was able to join her class, my new Pilates teacher insisted on seeing me for a private session so she could check out my posture and make sure I understood where to locate my core and how to grip my pelvic floor (the bit you that stops you weeing).
Just like an apple, we too have a core - trunk, or mid section - and it is from this core that we develop strength throughout our whole body, creating fluid movement. This is partly why Pilates is popular with dancers and athletes - it strengthens and affords graceful movement, while developing lean, toned and flexible muscle groups.
But you don't have to be dancing or athletic to try out Pilates. It's widely available, across the UK, in various forms: runners Pilates, mat Pilates, apparatus Pilates, pregnancy Pilates, OAP Pilates - yes, it's very popular with the seniors.
"Everyone has some mobility, even those people with osteoporosis or severe arthritis, there will be some movement they can do. And do it in a safe way."
"One of the best anti-aging techniques is good posture." Walking with an upright, flowing gait can detract years from your age."
"People get smaller and weaker as they age because the postural muscles are under worked. People cave in on themselves, getting rounder, but with the slightest adjustment of posture - a slight lift to the left, or a subtle drop on the right - we can feel like new, and younger.
Yoga v Pilates
Where yoga works on end-range movement, reaching and stretching, Pilates brings the focus inward, working centrally.
Strong Core = mobility
"If the core is weak," said Little, "something else has to step in to stabilise the body. The back might take over, until it feels weakened with the extra work; or the hamstrings until they get so tight you can't reach forward. Even the shoulders will try to stabilise, but they get stiff." As you develop your core and it gets stronger, the rest of the body has better mobility.
It doesn't matter if you are stiff & creaky or active & thin... Pilates will help you!
As there is no official governing body overseeing Pilates instructors, Little stressed the wisdom in finding out:
- how long someone has been teaching
- how large their classes are (smaller the better for unique attention and adjustment)
- whether they have experience dealing with your specific, medical needs
For more information, visit Corepilates or The Pilates Foundation