4 Ways Pilates Can Help With Your Sports Performance

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German-born Joseph Pilates began developing the discipline, while interned in Britain during World War I, as a form of rehabilitation for injured soldiers.

He emigrated to the USA in the early 1920s with his wife Clara, and together they developed and taught the Pilates method in their 'body-conditioning gym' in New York. He worked with dancers from the New York Ballet including Martha Graham and George Balanchine.

Pilates is now universally accepted as the go to practice to strengthen the body and mind and is highly recommended by general practitioners, physiotherapist, osteopaths and sports doctors.

This form of low-impact exercise routine, that aims to strengthen and balance the muscles while improving postural alignment and flexibility, is widely recognised for its many benefits - especially for sports.

More and more sports men and women are looking to Pilates as an essential part of their regimen and training programmes to help them move and breathe better.

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Here’s why.

1. Increased Flexibility and Mobility

Good flexibility and mobility are vital for participation in sports. Tight muscles and stiff joints can affect agility, fluidity, therefore impact on the quality of movement.

Numerous studies have shown that Pilates training improves flexibility in the hamstrings, shoulders, and upper and lower back among healthy adults.

2. Build Core Strength

Tennis (and other racquet sports), golfing, running, and many other sporting activities are powered by a strong core. Weak, tight, or unbalanced core muscles can undermine your performance, leaving you more prone to poor posture, injuries, back pain, poor balance and stability.

Pilates’ emphasis on the core, also known as the “powerhouse”, creates a foundation for muscular endurance, strength and stability, better posture and balance, and enhanced energy.

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3. Recovery and Rehabilitation

An increasing number of physical therapists are incorporating Pilates into their rehabilitation programmes to help manage the recovery process after sports injury.

Pilates can help restore and recalibrate the body, redress the balance, relieve aches and pains, restore good mobility and strength. Ultimately getting you back on track after an injury.

4. Improved Posture

Everything starts with a good posture. Most sports activities involve repetitive movements, which can put strain on the areas involved – particularly if poor posture has been adopted. And this is where pilates comes in.

Pilates is one of the few form of exercise, if not the only one that strengthens all of those deep postural muscles that work to restore good alignment and support the spine, and allow you to push harder (and more safely) in your sports training.

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Interested in taking up Pilates?

Whether it’s for a sports related injury, to maintain a level of fitness or simply to lead a full, healthy and meaningful life, Pilates can work for you.

Dalia is an experienced, certified Pilates Teacher. She set up Wellness Pilates, a bespoke Pilates practice at The Queen’s Club to offer customised 1:1 reformer and mat private sessions to suit individual needs. Clients quickly feel the benefits of enhanced body movement and flexibility and gain confidence and awareness.

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Image Credit: Photo by Renith R on Unsplash