Why you should try it
from the equipment shelf. Organising my inventory, the class took off with a lesson on the basics of breathing. The approach being long controlled breaths through the nose and out the mouth. From there, the class advanced in an upright position with slow movements of the neck, arms, legs, and variations from standing to the horizontal plank position with snailpace pushups. Joint alignment was a key focus – shoulders over hips, hips over knees, knees over ankles.
Moving down to the mat for core work, the weighted toning balls were balanced on the head and lower back to pull focus on those areas. The core was pinpointed through composed single and double floating leg extensions, side planks with the malleable magic circle placed between the legs for some oafish squeezing, and ‘‘The Hundred’’ – a core balancing act that holds for an eternal 100 beats. The foam roller could be used across several positions. The class concluded with a return to breathing and resting position, child’s pose. This class was intended to be a decent warm-up for a more intense workout programme. While none of the movements proved hugely difficult, the balanced feeling afterwards was immediately noticeable. The noted benefits of pilates include improved flexibility, balance, and posture, increased muscle strength around the spine, and conditioning of the abdominal muscles – effective rehabilitation for lower back pain. In addition, a clinical study in the World Journal of Sport Sciences reveals that regular pilates classes can help people with bladder control, mothers with maternal fatigue, and significantly increase serotonin – reducing the severity of depression.
Risk rating
If suffering from lower back pain, it’s recommended that you see a physician before joining the dots on that yearlong membership. Start with a private session if injury rehabilitation is a goal. Like with any physical activity, there are always risks and you should exercise under the guidance of a trained professional.
For more info visit pilates.co.nz