Yes, You Should Add Pilates to Your Workout Routine

If you already have a favourite sport, you might be wondering why you should add Pilates to your workout routine; you are active, strong, train hard, and have always been into sports. First, you should thank yourself for keeping fit. You aren’t one of those who needs to struggle to “start” or “fit in” active living as they get older. But (yup – here it comes) if you want to keep doing that favourite activity for years to come, Pilates is going to help you do it better, longer, and without injury. After all – your body isn’t getting any younger, no matter how well you treat it!

But… I Feel Great Already! 

If you are anything like me, you have kept up with your fitness because of how it makes you feel! You are already getting results that help you feel good about yourself, such as: 

• Stress relief
• Maintaining weight
• Better sleep
• Feel stronger
• Have more energy 
• Think more clearly
• Feel happier

And if you feel great, why would you consider adding another activity to your roster? 

Pilates is the Missing Piece to Your Routine 

I have been teaching fitness in one form or another since I was about 18 years old, but when I discovered Pilates, it was like finding the missing puzzle piece. It brought everything together for me, enhancing the activities I was already doing – and still love to do! 

Pilates brings strength, stretch, and mobility into each exercise you do, and works the full body. Through using the apparatus, you learn to connect to your body in new ways, by finding underused muscles and “getting out of” the muscles you overuse. When you perform a sport or activity regularly, you will form asymmetries and imbalances – which can cause pain and maybe even injury. 

Runners, for example, tend to be very quad dominant while becoming weak and tight in their glutes and hamstrings. Those weaker muscles are helpful in your running stride to achieve good extension and power to drive you forward. Pilates can help even out those imbalances.

Read: Pilates & Strength Training WILL Help You be a Better Runner

Pilates Fixed My Literal Pain in the Butt 

I’m the perfect example. At one point in my career, I taught four spin classes a week, while also doing aerobics and running regularly. All of those activities used mainly my quads, while my glutes didn’t get much attention. This was because I wasn’t using my body correctly! Well, I started to form a huge, painful knot in my left glute. I could still do my regular activities, so I ignored the pain for years while suffering constant pain in the butt.

Once I added in strength training and Pilates (with a lot of single-leg exercises), I began to build strength back into my glutes. And wouldn’t you know, that constant ache disappeared! Sure, it will creep back in now and again (so annoying) – but now I know why, and even more important, how to fix it. 

I love that I have learned how to pick my legs up off the ground using my glutes instead of just my hip flexors. When I go to boxing class, they have us do a lot of ab work, where we need to hold our legs up. I find that I can hold my legs up even longer than the strongest, fittest-looking people in the class. My not-so-secret weapon? Pilates, of course! I can hold my legs up longer because I have learned through Pilates how to engage more muscles to help me. 

What Could You Do Better, If You Added Pilates?

If Pilates can teach a fitness-fanatic how to move her body more efficiently, what can it do for you? At the very least, when you add Pilates to your workout routine, you will become more aware of your body and build strength in areas that it is lacking.

If you want to do more of what you do already, keep doing it longer, perform better, and avoid injury, then Pilates is worth bringing into your life.

I have options to suit almost anyone, including private sessions, small group classes, and online programs. Not sure what option will suit your sport and schedule best? Send me an email, and let’s chat.