Pilates and Sports

Maybe you are an athlete who is has reached a plateau or there are certain moves in your sport that you just can’t do.  Practicing doesn’t help because you have internalized a movement pattern that prevents you from going forward.  You might want to give Pilates a shot.

Here are some ways Pilates might help you improve in the sport of your choice:

The Rollup:

The massaging action of the Rollup helps promote the essential mind/body connection.  The rollup promotes shoulder integration, abdominal strength and spinal flexibility.

Re Sports:  the mat roll up will benefit any activity where you reach up over your head because the exercise develops range of motion and strength.

With improved stability and agility you can access your core power to enable more effective swings in games like tennis, volleyball and golf.

Leg Circles:

Promotes improved range and efficiency of movement in the hip joints, strong legs and hips and a strong/stable low back.  Additionally, you will develop balanced muscular use and strength of legs, hips and shoulders

Re Sports:  good for: walkers, runners, climbers and dancers

Rolling like a Ball

Develops healthy Pilates breathing and massages the spine, promotes balance

Re Sports:  good for: gymnasts, speed skaters, and mountain bikers…all of whom need balance, coordination, spinal flexibility, ab strength and hip and shoulder power.

Single Leg Stretch:

Increases range of motion and helps strengthen the hips, legs and abs for deep squatting

Re: Sports:

Helps you identify and eliminate imbalances in dancing, running, bicycling, rock climbing.  Helps deepen your squat when lifting weights

Double leg stretch

Builds on the freedom of movement and stability of the shoulders and the arm and extends the range of motion of your hip and shoulder joints.  Helps provide strength, endurance and stability

Re Sports:  good for over-head sports such as basketball, volleyball, pitching

Spine Stretch

Develops spinal flexibility, ab control and shoulder integration

Re Sports:  Pretty much helps with everything

Saw

Stretches the back and hamstrings.  Helps create pelvic stability and cross-patterning dynamic between the front shoulder and opposite hip.

Re Sports:  For tennis and golf, swimming, pitching or any activity that involves torso rotation and hip stability

Swan

Creates back strength and a strong ‘sandwich system’, shoulder strength and stability and chest opening.

Re Sports:  Gymnastics, diving, climbing, pitchers, golfers, tennis players and fly fishermen

Sidekicks

Creates strong well-balanced movements and coordination. Works the strength and balance of the pelvis

Re Sports:  Good for runners, hurdlers, dancers, gymnasts, skateboarders

Seal

Creates a flexible spine, powerful core, good balance and steady coordination

Re Sports: For skateboarders, gymnasts, divers