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{{label}}Chris Judd - 4 min read
22 May 2019
The benefits of Pilates are compelling, and many athletes – including Chris Judd – swear by it. Here’s why you should be spending some time on the mat.
I didn’t pick up Pilates until I was 25 years old. By that point, my body was completely broken down with osteitis pubis (an inflammation caused by overload) – so it was introduced to me as a means of rehabilitation. The results were so compelling that I think that I did Pilates almost every single day for the rest of my career.
Initially, I’d do Pilates at the club with physios – but eventually, I bought a reformer machine for home. Even now, if I feel my back flaring up, I’ll jump on the machine for a few weeks – usually just in 15-minute blocks. Thankfully, though, I’m not putting my body under nearly as much stress these days ¬¬– so I’m not on the reformer as regularly as I used to be.
Personally, I found Pilates beneficial when it came to muscle control. I’ve tried yoga for flexibility, but I saw such a benefit to engaging small intrinsic muscles with Pilates. Those groups are difficult to strengthen with traditional weight exercises because your larger muscles take over. I was really homing in on spinal mobility and building small muscles in the glutes – as well as some light ab-work.
Then, of course, a lot of people enjoy the mindfulness component of Pilates. When I was doing it regularly, I’d approach it like I was paying an insurance premium on my own body. I was really putting a down payment on my own ability to do the exercise I wanted to in the future. If you’re considering starting Pilates – or any training, really – think of it as an investment in yourself.
I’ve got to say, Pilates is one of the few kinds of exercise where I can wake up the day after doing it and actually feel better. Usually, if you’re sore and you go for a run or jump on the bike, you’re going to wake up feeling even worse for wear. But with Pilates – if you’ve been doing it right – you should see an improvement.
One of the biggest advantages I see from using regular Pilates training as a complementary exercise is it has the ability to help you fix physical problems you’re experiencing. If you’re having a persistent problem and you go to see a physio or myotherapist – they’ll be able to diagnose it, but it’s still going to take effort on your part to fix the issue.
Of course, it’s also great as a stand-alone exercise tool. My approach was always more results driven, but if your body is sound and able then Pilates can really help you push the limits of what you can achieve. It’s similar to running – you say you’re into it and that covers everything from 400 metres around the block to a 100km ultra-marathon. There’s this whole dimension of difficulty you can attach to running, and Pilates is no different. The only limitation is how far you want to take it.
In that sense, it’s the perfect form of exercise for everyone from Iron Man-contenders to those who are just starting their fitness journey. Anyone who’s pushing themselves – and that’s a definition relative to the individual – would definitely be served by incorporating some Pilates training in their routine. As with every exercise, start slow – but just get out there and give it try. You might be surprised by the results.
A Pilates trainer’s perspective
Cat Webb, founder of Good Times Pilates shares some simple exercise to try at home.
“This approach to fitness was developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s. Not only did he invent the movement, but he developed the equipment to go with it. First, there were mat-based exercises – then he designed the reformer machine. There are just so many things you can do with Pilates, no matter which way you choose to try.
If you’ve never tried Pilates before, here are three mat-based exercises you can do at home.
1. Swan Lie on your tummy on the ground with your hands near your shoulders. Then, push yourself up with your hands – so that side-on your body is curved like a capital letter ‘J’. Repeat 20 times. This exercise is helping to reverse the hunched shape we spend so much of our time in when we’re sitting down. By extending your spine, you’re relaxing the muscles in your back.
2. Bridge Lie on your back with your knees bent so your feet are flat on the ground. Keep your arms beside you and lift your bum up and down off the ground. This one is scalable, so you can make the motion fast or slow, or you can try straightening one knee so you’re doing it with one leg. However you want to approach it, do it 10 times with a pause at the top where you really focus on the motion. You’ll be engaging your hamstrings and glutes with every movement.
3. Side plank Again, this exercise has a lot of progressions and regressions depending on your strength level. The best way to start is lying on your forearm with your elbow in line with your feet. Then, reach your free arm up to the ceiling and push into the floor with your other forearm so you lift your body off the ground. For an added challenge, reach the free arm over your head to add a bending motion to the movement. Repeat these 10 times on each side. By doing so, you’re activating your obliques and lats, and you’re adding a nice side-stretch into the mix as well.”
Former Australian Rules footballer Chris Judd is familiar with how to get your heart rate up and push yourself physically. Twice winner of the prestigious Brownlow Medal, Chris is an honoured sportsman and father to four children, Oscar, Billie, Tom and Darcy. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.
Disclaimer:
The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional, tax or other advice. It does not take into account any individual’s personal situation or needs. You should consider obtaining professional advice from a financial adviser and/or tax specialist, or medical or health practitioner, in relation to your own circumstances and before acting on this information.
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