Everyone lives a busy lifestyle, often with irregular physical activity. Nowadays people work in front of a computer all day, use their mobile phone on-the-go, sit for long periods of time (including the commute to/from work) and unsurprisingly, complain of a sore back and pain around their neck and shoulders. In addition, many people deal also with regular headaches.
This modern lifestyle has a huge effect on our posture. Many small habits when combined, can force a large negative change to your posture. For example, do you ever sit at work in a slouched position with one or both legs crossed on your chair? This common posture contributes to tightness at the neck and shoulder as well as tight hip flexors which has many (negative) flow-on effects.
If this is you, then structured training sessions in the Pilates method will help you in the short and long-term. This is because Pilates is the original corrective exercise method, working with postural alignment and core control at the powerhouse muscles (abdominals, gluteals, inner thigh, pelvic floor and deep back) as well as stretching tight muscles. On that note, Pilates uses specific exercises to dynamically mobilise and stretch tight and overworked muscle groups. Over time muscles build up directly and will be stronger, providing the client with awareness about how to maintain this ideal balance and posture.
Melbourne Osteopathy Sports Injury Centre has two fully-equipped Pilates studios:
Both studios have a wide variety of Pilates equipment enabling your instructor to select components of the methodology that will help you reach your goal, relative to your current physical state. Each apparatus works differently to best support our clientele. For example:
- The Reformer works to improve posture and strengthen the powerhouse muscles on a moving surface.
- The Cadillac provides the body with a ‘two-way stretch’, helping you to simultaneously strengthen and stretch, improving your posture.
- The Wunda Chair works on postural alignment in sitting and standing positions that are applicable for daily activities.
- The Spine Corrector and Barrels mobilise the spine while encouraging abdominal strengthening and control which leads to long-lasting positive postural change.
- We also offer the lesser known apparatus such as the Pedapole and Foot Corrector in addition to many other props which help our clients achieve comfort and success.
The Pilates method offers a dynamic training approach which can help you modify and improve your posture whether you are pain-free, carrying an injury or even for rehabilitation following an event or surgery. Pilates is a fantastic tool to prevent injuries and to help improve your mind-body connection.
Astrid is an experienced Pilates instructor at Melbourne Osteopathy and Sports Injury Centre and is a fully qualified member of Pilates Alliance Australasia.
If you would like to speak to Astrid or one of our other Pilates Instructors about starting Pilates or if you need any other details on our approach to Pilates you can contact us on:
(03)99391289
