Turn to Pilates for Pain Relief

When I was talking with some clients about why they started coming to the studio, many of them said that they started doing Pilates for pain; either to prevent it or relieve it. I find it interesting that the common motivation for starting Pilates is so different from that of other types of fitness because Pilates has so much to offer (which is why people keep doing it). 

Fitness Motivators

There are lots of reasons people start working out or join a team. Think about one of your favourite activities; what inspired you to start? Some motivators I can think of are:

• Golf to be with friends and get outside.
• Team sports for camaraderie and competition. 
• Dancing to express yourself. 
• Weightlifting or the gym to get strong or lose weight.
• Running for the cardio “high” or to train for a marathon.
• Yoga for flexibility.

I’m sure I missed a whole bunch of reasons, but you can see where I’m going here. Even though Pilates will get you stronger and more flexible, make you sweat, and can change how your body looks, it isn’t usually the first type of fitness that people associate with those things. Most people turn to Pilates for pain relief. 

Pilates for Pain

I love that muscle ache from a great workout, but I really hate being in pain no matter what the type. I’ve seen all sorts of people with all types of pain come to the studio. There are injuries from overuse, repetitive use, and lack of movement and they affect people of all ages and genders. 

Athletes

I’ve seen pain show up in runners and cyclists who don’t cross-train, young athletes who play a single sport year-round with few breaks, and even dancers. 

Job Related Pain

I’ve worked with waitresses, desk sitters, an ultrasound technician, truck drivers, hairdressers, a diver, and a commercial fisherman. They were all doing jobs that required them to repeat the same movements over and over again, often using one side of the body more than another. Balancing a heavy tray of drinks on one side of your body for an eight-hour shift is tough on the body! Back and neck pain are common reasons that get people to the Pilates studio. 

Injuries/Surgeries

Clients have come to me to help them recover from car accidents or slips and falls. Some need surgery because of it, or are recovering from surgery. Pilates is often recommended as a safe way to stay strong and build strength before and after surgery, so clients come on their doctor or physiotherapist’s recommendation. 

Chronic Pain

Then some others have chronic pain and/or live with conditions that will never go away but can be managed with healthy habits, including exercise. I’ve had some clients that find Pilates is the best option for them, as other forms of exercise can be too much and cause flare-ups. I also had a client with a brain injury who always said that if he had to choose one type of exercise, he’d pick Pilates, as it helped his concentration and focus along with the physical benefits.

Why I Started Pilates

I didn’t start Pilates to alleviate pain, but because of the convenience of the class time. I taught fitness classes at a gym, had a one, three, and five-year-old at home, and my husband travelled and often worked late. I needed something that I did for myself, and Pilates fit into our busy schedule. 

After a short time of doing regular Pilates, I was surprised at how much better I felt. I didn’t even notice how tight and imbalanced my body was. But after three pregnancies and all that came with parenting young children (feeding, lifting, carrying, etc.), I had numbness on one side of my upper back, pain in my wrist, and in my traps on one side. It’s crazy how pain builds up over time without us even noticing. 

Lo and behold, I started to get stronger and my imbalances began to even out. This is what got me so interested in learning more about Pilates. I discovered that it involved so much more than the mat workout I was doing. The reformer and other apparatus were foreign to me until I went to teacher training for mat Pilates. The more I learned, the more I got out of it, and I discovered how amazing Pilates really is. 

What’s Special About Pilates

There are lots of jokes out there about how Pilates teachers will offer Pilates as the solution every time we hear someone say that they have this pain, ache, injury, or condition. I do believe that Pilates can help every person, but I also believe in cross-training. I love to lift weights, cycle, and run, but what’s unique about Pilates is that I can do it every single day. 

Pilates can be intense or a gentle stretch, and I can do it anywhere. If I ran every day I’d end up with stress or overuse injuries, but the more Pilates I do, the better I feel. It helps me recover faster from my other activities and do the things I love with less pain or potential injury. Yes, doing Pilates for pain works; but you’ll notice the benefits in every other area of your life, too.

Fix What Hurts – More Posts About Pilates for Pain Relief

• How to Avoid Running Pain
• Fix Foot Pain with These Wunda-ful Exercises
• Pilates for Back Pain
• Let’s Talk About Sitting Too Much
• When it Hurts to do Squats

A Special Note to Fellow Pilates Lovers

I’m so grateful for the wonderful, loyal clients and friends that I’ve gained over the years through Pilates, and who I’ve helped benefit from the Pilates method. I’m now at a stage where I can get more Pilates to more people through training new teachers. If you love Pilates as I do, I’d love to share my passion with you. We can dig deeper and “nerd out” about Pilates together. Keep your eyes open for new teacher training coming later this year!