Pilates … what is it?
It’s a high endurance exercise routine that emphasizes proper alignment, balance, improved coordination, breathing and a stronger core. Its benefits include improved flexibility, muscle strength and better balance.
Yes but… Is Pilates for us?
There are 9 Pilates principles which the routine is developed from:
Breathing, concentration, precision, centre, flow, control, postural alignment, relaxation and stamina. It’s basically about meditation, focus and calm, controlled movements – and it can be modified to suit a student’s difficulty level, making it the perfect workout routine for all ages and health limitations. So yes! I ‘d say it’s just what we need.
Let me tell you a bit about me
All my life I was the most hyperactive person imaginable until I was diagnosed with PD, 9 years ago. I am a fitness instructor, so it seemed very ironic to have a movement disorder disease. I suppose it is hard on all of us but for me it was a question of how much I wanted to fight back and slow it down. I usually say: “The day I stop fighting I’ll die” and I mean it!
Most of us are aware of the multiple benefits of exercise but for me, there is nothing like Pilates to help me through every day. I wake up weighting a ton, stiffness is my second name followed by pain. I start functioning half an hour after I take my medication and the first thing I do is to get my mat and start my Pilates on Zoom class. And then a miracle happens. As the routine progresses my stiffness gives place to a flexible body, I focus on doing the exercises and I can feel my strength flowing back into my muscles. It’s hard, I get sweaty, but there’s when I am happy repeating “centre, control, precision” in my head and feeling alive and painless. And then it stops. Wow! That was good! We all say it, we all feel it.
I currently teach ladies from 31 to 84 years old. All in one same class. The exercises are adapted to every single one of them. The results can be felted, and the group has been growing since it started, back in 2015. With the lockdown came the online experience and, although it’s not the same (instead of correcting I have to take more time explaining the exercises and the do’s and don’ts) no one has left the class.
My next challenge is you
Yes, you. Do you have PD? I do. Are you willing to fight?
I have prepared a pilot class of Pilates for People with Parkinson’s. As much as I’d love to do it live this pandemic virus crisis won’t allow it any time soon, so Zoom is the available option.
If you are interested please let us know by emailing m.cruz67@outlook.com, and you will hear from us really soon.
Thank you.