Fitness & Wellness News Your Source for Fitness, Wellness, Health, and Nutrition News
The air is warm and the skies are blue. So this week, I took my Pilates routine
outdoors! Understanding the Pilates principles and exercises is truly a gift. I was able to bring my mat and ring outside, and enjoy the weather while executing routines. When I returned to the Center after the long weekend, getting back on the reformer was like reuniting with an old friend. The workouts felt fresh, and I enjoyed every moment with great enthusiasm.
I’m on the home stretch now with 29 days left to reach my 100 Days goal. Each week, I share how great I feel. It no longer feels like something I “have to do,” but something I look forward to doing every day. When I complete a session, in addition to feeling taller and more flexible, I feel more graceful in my movements, much like a ballerina.
I have never taken a dance lesson in my life. However, I understand why there is a misconception that Pilates was developed for dancers. Pilates exercises are performed with precise movement and breath. Perfect form is the objective, which reveals beautiful movements that seem as effortless as a ballerina cascading across the stage. Pilates can appear like a choreographed performance.
When dancers discovered Pilates, its popularity exploded in the field. The tremendous value the exercises held was quickly realized. Dancers are often very flexible. Sometimes, with increased flexibility comes decreased stability of the joints (and a risk of injury). Typically, dancers don’t focus on strength training. However, they need to have strong legs and ankles. With Pilates, dancers can gain strength and maintain a lean, long physique without adding bulk. Pilates also enhances stability of the joints, thus, decreasing the risk of injury.
Strengthening the core is essential for dancers. It encourages them to hold their mid and lower back properly to avoid imbalance and weakness in this region. Posture, balance, and spinal alignment improve, which is reflected in a star performance on the dance floor.
Dancers, it’s the perfect time of year to consider Pilates sessions. Competition and recital season will soon be over. Whether you rocked the stage or are finishing a series of classes, the summer provides an ideal time to work on conditioning and strengthening the body’s core. By fall, you can be stronger and leaner. Your form will improve and risk of injury will decrease. Your inner star will shine.
Please contactl me to discuss how Pilates can enhance your dancing—either in your living room, at the clubs, or in events.
Join me next week on www.fitnessandwellnessnews.com as I’ll share a $33-million Pilates story. Of course, celebrities are
involved.
