What is body balance?
This term we will be thinking about how Pilates can help us achieve a balanced body.
To do this we need to understand what that looks like. Balance doesn’t necessarily mean everything in our body working equally. Each muscle and joint in our body have different roles. If they all worked the same, moved the same amount or had the same power it would all be a bit odd! The small intrinsic muscles of our hand are supposed to work differently to the explosive power generators in our legs or the endurance muscles of our core and respiratory systems.
Balance to a physiotherapist means that the different muscles, joints and our neurological system works well together, in the correct proportions.
We don’t want to train all muscles to be equal! We want to train all muscles to do their job in proportion with the structures around them and to meet the demands we place on them.
Why is body balance important?
Balanced muscles work together well. Muscles groups working in balance have the right strength, length and level of activity to support and move our joints.
Muscle imbalance occurs when this relationship is altered. For example, if the muscles at the front of a joint become short and tight and the muscles at the back of a joint lengthened and inactive. This would put undue stress on your soft tissues and joints and affect how well they can work. Muscle imbalance can lead to pain.
What causes muscle imbalance?
Muscles are always adapting to what we do. Muscle imbalances can occur from poor posture, inactivity or unbalanced training regimes.
Can Pilates help me achieve a balanced body?
Yes! Physiotherapy led Pilates is one of the best ways to do this!
As physiotherapists, our anatomy and physiology knowledge give us the foundations we need to understand what is required for balance.
Next, we need to get to know you! A balanced body for an endurance swimmer is very different to the balance that a runner or an office worker requires. To be healthy and pain free and to perform well in our day to day movements or sports, we all need body balance. But what that balance looks like will be a bit different for us all. At Pop up Pilates, our physio team take the time to work out what body balance should look like for you, and then how to help you achieve it.
Whether in 1:1 sessions or in our group classes our team will work with you on an individual basis to support you with adaptions, progressions and corrections during your programme.
How will Pilates help my body balance?
This term your instructor will look at your Pilates exercises through a different lens each week with you. Each class is a different and whole body exercise programme. The classes gently progress as the term goes on. As you get better, your programme gradually gets a little more challenging.
Your instructor might bring some small equipment, like resistance bands ,weights, and balls, to add challenge.
Below is the template that your instructor will use to plan your programme this term. We hope you enjoy it!
Week 1: Understand and recap all of the key elements of Pilates, the foundations of the Pilates method.
Week 2: Muscle balance around the spine: endurance and strength generation
Week 3: Muscle balance around the spine: addressing tight muscles
Week 4: Muscle balance around the neck
Week 5: Muscle balance around the shoulder and chest
Week 6: Muscle balance around the hips and pelvis
Week 7: Muscle balance around the knee, foot and ankle
Week 8: Whole system balance, flexibility vs stability