In our never ending quest for the best exercise for aging bodies like us, we’ve stumbled upon Pilates. Actually, Pilates and Yoga are two of the most recommended exercises for seniors because they provide health benefits for the mind and the body.
Pilates being a low-impact exercise makes it perfect for seniors; aside from the fact that Pilates can even take away those chronic back pains and joint aches that are very common to older adults. Best of all, Pilates routines are adjustable to suit every person’s needs so no matter what fitness level you are in when you start doing Pilates, there’s always room for you in this exercise method. As you improve overtime and so does your fitness level, your Pilates routines will be appropriately adjusted as well.
Pilates promotes and improves balance, body alignment and proper posture. It stretches and elongates those superficial muscles that most of the time, are quite hard to reach with simple exercise routines such as walking and weight training. It can also improve your stamina and gain strength when you do the routines on a regular basis. Marked improvements in flexibility and muscle tone are noticeable. Pilates also helps calm the mind, making you adapt a happy, healthy disposition.
Pilates has been gaining popularity among seniors because of its ability to naturally take away back pains—a common problem for seniors and unfortunately, with no cure as of the moment, other than alternative methods like this. Joseph Pilates, the founder of Pilates exercise method, developed it and was used in rehabilitative purposes for war soldiers during his time. The reason why Pilates has been very effective in treating body aches and pains is that it is based on the anatomical composition of the body. Joseph Pilates believed that our body should follow certain alignment and due to our lifestyle, somehow the proper alignment of the body goes bad. Without strong spine support, that’s when back pains develop. As we age and with no strong core, back pains also worsen. Pilates, being a targeted exercise method, strengthens the core or torso first namely: the back, chest and pelvic.
Pilates can be done at home. When doing it at home, you will need instructional materials like books and videos; however, it is not recommended to start your Pilates routine alone because you will still need a live Pilates instructor to explain the basic principles of Pilates and to guide you with proper positioning of your body when performing a Pilates routine.
Classes are also conducted in studios and gyms. These settings are much better because they have Pilates equipments you can use while doing routines plus there’s an instructor to guide you with proper training. Most of all, it is a great way for seniors to gain new friends when doing Pilates in groups.
