Are You Really Getting a Full Body Workout? 

Fitness has changed a LOT since 1989, when I tried my first aerobics class. Those SWEAT classes were high impact with ten to fifteen minutes of leg lifts or abs, and were what got me hooked on working out. Soon, I was trained as an instructor and teaching people how to have a safe, fun, full body workout. Or was I? 

I loved to teach spin and Reebok step classes, and could have you dripping with sweat any day. But after years of those repetitive movements, my body started to suffer. I had strong legs, but weak glutes. Doing hundreds of crunches was a breeze, but I wasn’t strong in my core and my posture was terrible. And for lack of a better word, my balance sucked. I thought I’d have to quit teaching, because my body was feeling broken. I had been working out every day (and loving it), but had been isolating certain muscle groups rather than actually working my whole body like I thought I was. 

Focusing on One Activity Creates Imbalance

It’s okay to love one activity and want to do it all the time! I STILL love doing an intense, music-filled spin class. But too much of a fun thing is not a good thing…

Cyclists and spin class attendees sit in a hinged position, legs at about ninety degrees, and pedal forward for long distances. Cyclists can get into a very rounded posture due to lack of core strength, which can lead to tightness in the pecs and a sore upper back and neck. 

Runners (like me) take thousands of repetitive steps forward every week to improve their running. If their glute strength is lacking, the hip flexors get overused, leading to tightness and even low back pain. 

Read: Adding Cross Training Improves Performance

Golfers (like my husband) repeat a one-sided rotational movement of their swing a hundred times or more each round. If they have a weak core or poor mobility, the body will find a way to get the rotation in a not-so-ideal way. This is how injuries develop. 

Basketball players (like my daughters) have to make quick changes between moving forward, stopping, side to side, backwards, and jumping. Balance and stability of the ankles and knees is critical to avoid knee and ankle injuries.  

Read: Why Pilates Helps Teen Athletes

Each of these activities has benefits and makes fitness fun. But if you want to avoid injury and keep doing your favourite sport, your whole body needs to be strong and mobile. 

Get a REAL Full Body Workout

As my love of fitness grew, I kept learning more about how my body moved and discovered functional strength training and then Pilates. Now, my specialty is teaching and training my students to be stronger in the areas that get neglected by the sport or classes that they do. 

By slowing down a bit and becoming more aware of my movement, my imbalances and pains started to disappear. I don’t teach those high impact classes anymore, but I still love to do them – and without hurting myself in the process. This is what I want for you, too. 

Pilates and functional strength training are designed to give you a full body workout, so your body can support whatever you ask of it. If you have nagging aches and pains or want to feel stronger in your own skin, let’s talk! b.Pilates offers personal training, in-class, and virtual options, as well as an App to bring your fitness with you.