Pilates isn’t about looking perfect or having an impressively bendy body. It's about feeling strong, moving freely and enjoying life at every age.
When you think of Pilates, what comes to mind? Perhaps images of toned bodies, tiny waistlines or people who seem to bend themselves into all sorts of positions! But Pilates isn’t about having the perfect body, touching your toes or looking a certain way. It's about how you feel in your body, how well you move and, perhaps most importantly, how you look after yourself for the years ahead.
Pilates isn't just a class you turn up to once or twice a week - it's an investment in your future health and wellbeing. And it's never too early, or too late, to start Pilates! Have you ever thought about how much we take our bodies for granted? Being able to carry the shopping, get up and down from the floor, climb the stairs, bend down to pick something up or simply get out of bed in the morning without feeling stiff and creaky. These are the everyday things that make up our lives, and they're exactly the sort of things we want to keep doing comfortably and confidently as we get older.
As the years pass, it's natural for our bodies to change. We can lose muscle strength, become less flexible, notice changes in our balance and find that certain movements don't feel quite as easy as they once did. But getting older doesn't mean we have to accept feeling stiff, weak or restricted as an inevitable part of life. This is where Pilates can make such a difference!
Regular Pilates helps us work on the strength, flexibility, balance, coordination and mobility that support us in everyday life. Pilates encourages us to move our spines, strengthen our core, work our arms and legs, improve our posture and develop better control over how our bodies move. It's about building a body that supports you, rather than one that holds you back.
What does Pilates actually do for you?
It helps build strength. We work muscles throughout the body, particularly the deep abdominal muscles, back, hips and legs. This strength helps with everyday activities such as lifting, carrying, walking and getting up from a chair or the floor.
It improves flexibility and mobility. Gentle, controlled movements help us maintain and improve our range of movement, keeping our joints moving and helping us feel less restricted. If you regularly wake up feeling stiff, you'll understand just how wonderful it is to feel a little more mobile!
It encourages better posture. We spend so much time sitting, driving, looking at screens and hunching over everyday tasks. Pilates helps us become more aware of how we hold ourselves, strengthening the muscles that support our posture and encouraging us to stand taller.
It improves balance and coordination. These become increasingly important as we age. Feeling steady on our feet, moving confidently and maintaining our independence are things we should never take for granted. It can help support a healthier back. By strengthening the muscles around the spine, hips and abdomen and encouraging controlled movement, Pilates can help improve physical function and manage certain types of back pain.
It helps to calm and refocus your mind. Pilates encourages you to concentrate on your breathing, movement and body awareness. It's a chance to switch off from the outside world and give your mind a little breathing space.
Pilates is for everyone.
As a petite, curvy, not-so-typical 56 year old Pilates teacher, I want people to know that Pilates is for EVERY body. You don't need a flat stomach, a particular dress size, a naturally flexible body or an athletic background to enjoy it. I've been teaching Pilates for 14 years now, and I've seen first-hand how much regular classes can benefit people. It's wonderful watching people become stronger, more confident in their movement and more comfortable in their bodies.
I've also experienced the benefits myself, both physically and mentally. I genuinely feel a million times better after each class. I feel invigorated, alive, calmer and more energised. I love that feeling of having moved, stretched, strengthened and done something positive for myself. And that's what I want my clients to experience too. Pilates is about feeling stronger, standing taller, moving more freely and enjoying the body you're in.
Make time for your future self. We spend so much time looking after everyone else, juggling work, family and all the other demands of everyday life. It's easy to put our own health and wellbeing at the bottom of the list. But taking time to look after your body isn't selfish. It's one of the best investments you can make in yourself.
We can't stop the ageing process, and Pilates isn't a magic fix for every ache or condition. But we can take positive steps to help maintain our strength, mobility, balance and independence for as long as possible. And the benefits aren't just something to look forward to in the future. You can start feeling them now.
So, if you've been thinking about trying Pilates, here's your little nudge to get started!