5 Key Benefits of Including Pilates in Your Training Routine

Pilates has been around for a long time and has become a significant part of many people's lifestyles today. So, what does that mean for you as a runner?

1. Low Impact Cross Training:

   1. Pilates has been demonstrated to be beneficial as a low impact cross training activity that helps build muscle coordination and control.

   2. While spending time on our feet builds endurance, it is not practical to rely solely on this strategy. Here is where Pilates is helpful in providing benefits we seek from our running and other strength training methods, but in a low impact way for our joints.

      

2. Movement Efficiency:

   1. Pilates is helpful to improve our movement skill acquisition and is particularly helpful in avoiding unnecessary movements often used by less experienced runners, thereby reducing energy costs. Just as your body uses trial and error to streamline a new movement skill, Pilates helps you dissociate movement from your trunk, pelvis, and legs, streamlining this process.

      

3. Strengthening through full range of motion:

   1. It helps strengthen your accessory muscles and build strength through a full range of motion. Conventional strength training exercises are often limited to strengthening within a specific range of motion. So, why is it important for us to strengthen through full range? Well, depending on where we run, what the environment is like and how demanding it is, we will draw on these strengths at different times. For example, to sprint up a hill, you need to be able to move your hips through a greater range of motion than if you are completing an easy run on flat ground.

      
      

4. Improved Running Economy:

   1. It has been shown to help improve your running performance! It can help your economy and efficiency.

   
   

5. Enhanced Trunk Strength and Mobility:

   1. Strengthens your trunk muscles and may help improve thoracic mobility (which is important for breathing....who else notices they can't breathe as freely when they are stiff in their upper back?).

      
      

      

      
      

Pilates can be tailored to suit all health, injury and fitness levels. It can be incredibly versatile based on your goals. You can do it at home or in a group environment. Is the weather unexpectedly stopping you from going for your scheduled run? That's fine, do some Pilates at home instead! This can be a great substitute when things don't quite go to plan. Seek advice from your coach or treating health care professional to find out what Pilates exercises may be best suited to your needs and goals.

Happy Running,

Coach Mel

**all information is general in nature and is not meant to replace individual advice by your treating practitioner. It is always recommended to seek individual advice before commencing a new exercise program.