Pilates has received so much exposure in the fitness media over the past couple of years, you could be forgiven for wondering whether it's a bit of a fad or an exercise form of real substance. Pilates is in fact not a new creation from the marketing department of "As Seen On TV" eg. the "AbMaster" and those other contraptions that clutter up the undersides of our beds and closets. Rather, it is an exercise system that was first developed in the 1920's to assist in the training and rehabilitation of performing artists and sports people alike: dancers, circus acrobats and gymnasts. Since the early 1970's it has been used extensively by the general public, particularly popular in the US and UK, with the same results - to improve flexibility, core strength, efficiency of movement, posture and to rehabilitate from injury.

The reason why it works so well and is now highly regarded by the medical community, particularly Physiotherapists and Sports Physicians, is that it concentrates its efforts around strengthening the deep architectural musculature about our spine. This is tremendously important in this modern age as so many of us are really very sedentary in our daily activities and compounding this is the time spent bent over computers and slouching in front of the TV in poor postural positions. It's no wonder that back and neck pain are so common - we simply have slipped into poor postural habits and those muscles designed to hold us upright have weakened to a point where they are not doing the job they are designed to do!

Due to its technical nature and specificity of movement, correct Pilates should be taught initially on an individual basis with an instructor. It requires a great deal of focus, concentration and a whole new understanding and appreciation for how your body moves - really assisting that Mind-Body connection so that proper movement, strength and control is re-programmed into the body, eventually occurring at a sub-conscious level which assists with injury and acts as a preventative measure too.

Clinical Pilates instructors are those instructors (often also Physiotherapists) who have specific training in exercise rehabilitation using the tried and proven principles of Pilates, modified to ensure appropriateness for the specific injury. Clinical Pilates should be taught either by a Physiotherapist or by instructors working closely in liaison with one. If you have recurring spinal problems and just don't seem to be able to keep on top of it longer term, Clinical Pilates may be appropriate for you. Like any exercise however, you need to make the decision to commit to a program of specific exercise and follow through with consistent effort in order to make a difference. It's all about personal responsibility - taking stock of where you are now, making a goal, having a vision about how you'd like to be and then of course just getting stuck in! Our bodies are designed to move in lots of interesting and different ways and Pilates is a chance to explore our capabilities and develop that inner strength in a physical way, complementing our mental and spiritual sides.

'If you support your body, it will support you'

Nikki Darroch
Certified Polestar Pilates Rehab Instructor
Forrest Hill Physiotherapy
Phone : (09) 410 8461

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Positive Life Balance is happy to support the people whose articles feature on our website; however, We are not able to take responsibility for any treatment received as a result of the this article.