Pilates and Sport
Skiing / Snowboarding
Both of these winter activities rely heavily on great balance and technique in order to make descending the piste as simple as possible! The majority of us that head off for a fix on the mountains each season don’t appreciate the demands it places on the body and simply throw ourselves into it, literally head first, from a normal sedentary life back home.
Several elements need to be considered whilst participating in these sports. The landscape itself with the undulating terrain will have an effect on the CORE muscles’ ability to work and maintain support for the spine. Then the surrounding environment with its various types of lifts, climate changes and crowded areas require the upmost of concentration to avoid direct injury. All of this before considering the body’s own ability to stay balanced throughout, relying heavily on the CORE to optimise performance, maintain balance and reduce the number of falls.
Therefore, Pilates incorporated with these sports makes perfect sense. By learning to strengthen and move using the correct postural muscles, your experience on the piste can be made easier but far more effective. Pilates will increase your flexibility without sacrificing your strength, reducing the risk of injury. Regular Pilates before going away will also improve your overall endurance, fitness and balance as the spine is supported even better but moves more efficiently.