Functional Fitness: Ask The Pilates Instructor
Is Pilates A Functional Fitness Exercise?
Pilates can be linked to functional fitness by how Pilates encourages one to flow through movements. Through the poses of Pilates you are made aware of your muscles as you slowly move through into a position. As the poses become easier you can start getting into more complex positions which allows for more mobility of your spine. The main goal of Pilates is to assist the spine in stabilizing, mobilizing and balancing the body through its daily movements.
Here is a perspective from Trudi Fernandes, a Pilates instructor, on how Pilates assists in daily movement and where sports massage can assist in obtaining your functioning goals.
Trudi Fernandes a Pilates instructor.
How did you come about your inspiration for movement?
I have always been the average active person but my journey with Pilates began after years of lower back pain and then major back surgery when I was 31. The need for a second back op 3 years later and being a mom of 2 toddlers made me realize that I can no longer take my ability to move for granted, it was time to get serious about looking after myself, to understand how our bodies work and what we can do to keep them working efficiently. And so I started a journey of complete coordination of body & mind, restoring alignment & building strength.
How does functional training / Pilates link in with our daily lives?
With Pilates or functional training we work to eliminate muscular imbalances, improving posture and returning to healthy movement patterns. Improved posture will improve your ability to breathe and allow muscles to work at optimum capacity.
What are the ways in which functional training / Pilates can benefit people?
From young or old, fit or unfit, athlete or person with limited mobility, it prepares your body for the demands of daily activity. It prepares your body to move better in every way and it will help you to reduce pain by improving strength and mobility. In everyday life you will also notice better stress management, relaxation and improved concentration.
Do you have any experiences on how functional fitness / Pilates and therapeutic massage work together?
Massage plays an integral role in a balanced active life, reducing tension, relaxing muscles to allow better range of motion, re-alignment and improving recovery. The combination of Pilates and therapeutic massage ensures pain is eliminated and prevents it from returning and it helps to reeducate healthy muscle/joint action.
I always visualize a knot in a rope, the harder you pull on both ends the tighter you are making the knot. So sometimes you can stretch until you are blue in the face but what your body needs is the manual manipulation of these tight muscles.
And sometimes it’s just in the genes. I love to run but I’m only able to run pain free because of the benefits of therapeutic massage and Pilates working together.
What are the long-term benefits of a functional fitness / Pilates regime?
It will become a lifestyle of increased body awareness, proper breathing and it is suitable for everybody. A client once said her end-goal is to grow old comfortably and I truly believe that these benefits will make sure she reaches that goal.
To name just a few of the long term health benefits:
improved posture
improved flexibility
improved stabilization of your spine
increased and balanced muscular strength and tone
rehabilitation & prevention of injuries
“I started a journey to Restoring Alignment”.
Improved posture will improve your ability to breathe.
I always visualize a knot in a rope.
Enjoy Pilates with the stunning view of Stellenbosch.
For more information contact:
Trudi Fernandes
Cell phone number: 082 901 3888
E-mail: sekaipilates@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sekaipilates/