It’s important to stay active as we age, for both our physical and mental health, and more and more people are turning to Pilates in older age.
Pilates is a gentle but powerful form of exercise which can help to reduce stiffness, improve our balance, joint pain and muscle loss.
In our blog we explain why Pilates in older age is such a good choice.
What is Pilates, and why is it suited to the older generation?
Pilates is a form of exercise developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s, which is centred around working through a series of movements for rehabilitation, strength and mind-body focus.
It focuses on core principles of control, concentration, centring, precision, breath and flow, creating a form of exercise which strengthens your body, improves mobility and gives mental clarity too.
Many people are taking up Pilates in older age because it’s very well suited to older adults.
In contrast to higher-impact exercises such as HIIT workouts, it’s much gentler, giving a steady workout without strain on joints and other pain points.
And compared to gym-based exercise like weight training it is much more mindful, helping with body awareness and mental focus.
Pilates is also adaptable for all fitness levels, meaning that for complete beginners and those who aren’t usually as active, there’s still plenty to be gained from starting Pilates in older age.
The physical benefits of Pilates in older age
It’s no secret that as we age, our bodies start to show signs of wear and tear, and there are key areas which are good to focus on to build strength during this life stage.
Pilates is great at helping in a number of these areas:
1.Improving flexibility and mobility
By focusing on steady, measured movements, Pilates helps to reduce stiffness and increase the range of motion when this has become limited; it also helps to keep joints mobile and muscles supple.
2. Building strength and core stability
Pilates works to strengthen deep abdominal and back muscles which support the spine.
This means that, as well as building muscle strength more generally, posture is supported and benefits to spinal alignment are seen too.
Pilates also improves our core stability in other areas such as our Pelvis and Shoulder which all have an impact on posture.
3. Improving balance and co-ordination
Pilates is great for increasing body awareness, making participants more conscious of their posture and body movements in the rest of life as well as during classes.
This heightened body awareness helps to improve our co-ordination and proprioception enabling us to have quicker reaction times and the ability to make small adjustments when needed in order to improve our balance and stability.
Pilates also strengthens the muscles and joints in our legs which are essential for helping to stabilise us when standing and walking
This can help to reduce the risks of slips, trips and falls and boost confidence in daily activities.
4. Easing ongoing and chronic pain
Unfortunately, in older age, many suffer from constant or regular pain which can really take a toll on energy levels and mental health.
Pilates can help to ease pain through a general improvement in body function and activity levels, as well as normalised body movement.
You can read more about practicing Pilates for chronic conditions and pain in our previous blog on the topic.
The mental and emotional benefits of Pilates in older age
As well as being beneficial for physical health, many have also found Pilates to refresh their mind and even help to improve their mental health.
Pilates helps to reduce stress and anxiety through encouraging mindful breathing, being aware of your body as well as your surroundings.
This can lead to an improved mental focus, as well as aiding memory and body awareness.
Sadly, many older people struggle with isolation and lack a sense of community.
Pilates classes in-person are a great way to engage with other people and share a common goal.
Last month’s blog was all about the benefits of Pilates for mental health, so if you’d like to read more on the topic you can read about it here.
How to safely start Pilates in older age
If you’re a beginner, there are a few things to think about as you start your Pilates journey.
Find a certified Pilates instructor
Sadly, there are plenty of people out there who aren’t qualified to teach Pilates or lack experience and knowledge around how to tailor Pilates for older adults and adapt exercises for certain medical conditions, that many people may experience as they age.
So with this in mind they may not have the skills to be able to give the tailored support that will help you to practice Pilates safely.
At New Healthy Body all our instructors are highly qualified and specialise in helping people with many medical conditions and are able to advise on the correct way to undertake each exercise depending on your ability.
Start with Mat Pilates
We’d recommend starting with Mat Pilates rather than Reformer Pilates, for ease of access and to ensure you learn the basic Pilates principles.
It’s also much cheaper, which is always a bonus!
We’ve written about the differences between Mat Pilates and Reformer Pilates here.
Contact us today about taking up Pilates, whatever your age
One the reasons we love Pilates so much is that it’s so accessible for everyone, whether you’re older or younger, already very active or just building your confidence with exercise.
The key point to remember is that Pilates is all about progress rather than perfection, taking small, consistent steps towards overall better health for both body and mind.
This means that it’s a great form of exercise for everyone, and that’s also why taking up Pilates in older age is a popular choice.
As well as the benefits for flexibility, mobility and pain relief, it also provides valuable mental clarity and social opportunities too.
At New Healthy Body we run a variety of classes both in-person and online, meaning that whether you prefer to take a class from home or would like to travel to a studio, there are great options for you.
We’re also running an amazing 21-day Pilates programme at the moment, where for just £21 you can attend three one-hour classes either online or in-person, as well as have unlimited access to over 40 online exercises and workouts to complete whenever is convenient for you.
If you’re still wondering whether to take up Pilates in older age, feel free to contact us with any questions you might have, and we’d love to meet you at one of our classes!