How often do you consider your back? I’m being honest, until I first suffered low back pain after the birth of my second child by a 2nd C-section, I hadn’t really considered my back muscles. After all, I couldn’t see my back, it wasn’t such a concern! Doh!
Whatever your age, you should consider your back and its muscles as it used in pretty much every move you make every day of your life.
In a vanity sense, many of us consider and work on the “mirror muscles” of our bodies. The ones we can see in a mirror. Not the back.
Do you suffer from lower back pain?
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care. For some, it’s a constant or chronic condition, one that’s aggravated by our sedentary lifestyles. 90% of us will suffer from at least one episode of back pain during our lives, and that figure is expected to rise. Pilates is often recommended to those with back pain because it strengthens the core, a band of muscle that supports the back much like the weightlifting belts used by powerlifters. Pilates also stretches and strengthens the hips, further stabilizing the lower back. By teaching us how to stand, sit and lift properly, Pilates can help us replace less desirable postural habits with healthier ones.
Our bodies are interconnected machines. Pain in your lower back is often a result of a problem elsewhere in your body. Or, often as a result of a hormone imbalance within the body and not even a physical issue. Most of our waking time these days is spent in a flexed position. I discuss this in my previous post on Pilates being the antidote to 21C living. We therefore need to not only move our bodies regularly but also move them in a variety of ways including extending and side bending or rotating.
Strengthening our backs helps to protect against lower back pain, helps to create correct posture which in turns helps us to look good and feel good.
So those exercises in class where you are lying on your tummy….. those exercises…… try to add one or two of them into your week as well for added benefit.
If you are new to Pilates or are considering taking a class, you could try some basic core strengthening exercises in the meantime in order to work on your inner muscles and balance. Try googling or visiting You-Tube to view Pelvic Tilts, Spine Curls, Toe Taps, Dead Bugs and Superman (Bird Dog) on a good physio website. The NHS website is even an excellent place to start.
If you would like a 1:1 lesson with me in the studio then do get in touch: exevalleypilates@gmail.com
Similarly, to join a class either click on the get in touch link on my website or ping me message: Beth T: 07875437022
All Classes are mixed ability groups. Modifications or layers are created in order to access each exercise.
If you haven’t done pilates before then why not give it a go - either start with a 1:1 session with me or join my next beginners group class starting Thursday April 21st at Rewe Village Hall, Rewe.
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