PILATES & YOGA: ENHANCE SPORTS PERFORMANCE

People have discovered the core stability concept and are slowly realising that the core is linked to everything in the body.  Both disciplines will help any sportsman because you improve posture, you start to integrate your core stabilisers and the breathing aspect of Pilates and yoga causes the ribcage to expand, thereby increasing your VO2 capacity – an accurate measure of fitness.  Both Pilates & yoga address the problem of muscle imbalances present in most sports and there is a growing willingness to look outside the sport for ideas, in particular to address the injury toll associated with over-training of certain muscle groups.  All sportsmen will benefit from the increased core strength, mobility, flexibility, co-ordination, balance, mental focus and injury prevention/recovery gained from regular practice, but there are specific advantages for each sport.

FOOTBALL & RUGBY

A growing number of top footballers and rugby players do Pilates to prevent injuries. Groin strain, hamstring pulls and knee injuries are common.  In Rugby, shoulder and head injuries are also prevalent. (David Beckham)

"I am an aspiring rugby player but my career was being put on hold through persistent injury troubles. Since extensive Pilates I have been able to complete a full season without injury and noticed a significant improvement in my speed, strength and fitness that has given me an edge over my competitors. I continue to perform Pilates and hold it in the highest regards as a training aid." John Bordiss, London Wasps Academy

CRICKET

“Aspects of Pilates are used in our training all the time,” Nigel Stockill, ex-head physiologist and biomechanist for the ECB.  Pilates is particularly beneficial to cricketers due to the strong focus on the abdominal muscles and back. (Andrew Flintoff, English fast bowler)

RUNNING

Pilates helps prevent the sort of back injuries which can result from the constant impact involved in running by opening up the vertebrae in the lower back.  (Sanya Richards, athlete)

GOLF

Pilates addresses the need for excellent rotation around the spine while maintaining stability through the transverse abdominal muscles. The shoulders and arms also need to be stable in order to control a shot.  Very useful for mental preparation.  (Tiger Woods, Annika Sorenstam, David Duval, Lee Westwood)

RACKET SPORTS

‘Pilates’, says Elena Baltacha, one of Britain’s top women players, ‘helps with a lot of injury prevention. I’d recommend it to anyone.’  Tennis involves explosive movements and full range of motion: Pilates will provide the ability and control.  (The Williams sisters, Martina Navratilova, Andy Murray, Pat Cash)

SKIING

‘Most skiers overtax their big muscles because they haven’t learned how to use their core muscles,’ says Caroline Lalive, the Olympic downhill racer. Pilates challenges the deep abdominal muscles to support the pelvis and creates a strong, flexible, resilient structure, essential to deal with the twists and turns of the slope.

DANCE

Used by ballet dancers originally as a way of recovering from injuries, but now very definitely a part of a dancers training to improve every aspect of their performance. (Darcy Bussell)

EQUESTRIAN

A growing number of riders use Pilates to build core strength, suppleness, flexibility, grace and balance, as well as to improve general body awareness.  A good seat puts less strain on the horse so that rider and horse work as one.  (Betsy Steiner, ex US Dressage Team)

CYCLING

Modern mountain bikes require a more hunched posture with the head placed low over the front wheel. Pilates will help restore postural alignment, release the neck, open up the chest, ease and prevent back pain.

SWIMMING

Pilates exercises are performed at a deliberate pace with attention to detail, like swimming.  Particularly important is the need to release the neck, eliminating the muscular tension that affects the whole body when the head is pulled back.

FENCING

The power, range, balance, flexibility and levels of concentration required for this sport are greatly enhanced with the regular practise of yoga.