What is so great about Pilates?

Pilates is an exercises method that is excellent for the senior and athlete alike, an exercise method that both stretches and strengthens important muscles for longevity and optimal balance.

The Senior:
Although Pilates isn’t a cardiovascular workout it is ideal as an anti aging exercise program.  Lots of women and men take up Pilates in their 50’s, 60’s and older. Whatever your age when you start, you won’t have to worry about your body not coping with Pilates. Pilates is a total body system designed to build your core strength gradually through balancing, stretching and correct breathing techniques.  Stiffness and lack of fluid movements are often associated with an aging body. Pilates creates motion and brings fluid to every part of our connective tissue, making moving through the day easier and more graceful. Just what Joseph Pilates had in mind.

The Athlete:
Pilates helps athletes develop core strength, increase flexibility, assist in rehabilitation after injury and create muscular balance throughout the entire body.  As a result, athletes can withstand rigorous training regimes and ultimately improve their sport activity, prevent or recover from injury, and maintain an optimal fitness level for the activity of choice. Pilates is particularly effective in injury rehabilitation settings.  According to Matt Nichol, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the NHL Toronto Maple Leafs, Pilates teaches athletes to be mindful in their movements—integrating their pelvis, trunk and shoulder girdle in a safe, challenging and progressive system. “Pilates can be a very effective supplement to an injury rehabilitation program as it provides athletes with a challenging workout without impact or excessive weight bearing,” says Nichol.

Instruction Matters:
In 2017 we understand more fully the contraindications for individuals with joint replacements, spinal conditions, tight fascia and overstretched ligaments.  Pilates is an intelligent form of exercise with precise movements and isolation as well as fluidity and stamina training. Great instruction matters when it comes to Pilates. It is important to find instructors that are familiar with your body type, goals and condition. Clients will
progress faster and get the education they need from a well informed instructor.  Make sure your instructors are certified from recognized Pilates “houses”. That they are educated and up-to-date on your condition and sport specific goals.
More and more people are recognizing the real need for correct body alignment, postural muscle development, flexibility training and balance for the younger and the older populations. Our baby boomers are needing more expert “eyes” on their bodies helping them
to recruit those muscle groups that will keep them vital and active through their lives. “Gone are the days of grunting, pushing, and potentially harming our bodies thinking we are helping them” says Susan Markowitz, owner of Pivotal Pilates Fitness in Matawan. “Really less can be more when it comes to truly working the core muscle groups. When clients contract their abdominals correctly the entire “powerhouse” fires up making integration into every exercise more challenging,  I love working with senior clients and athletes alike. These populations require focus and specific work to help them get better, stronger, more balanced and flexible”, says Markowitz.
If you haven’t experienced Pilates yet, you should get yourself down to Pivotal Pilates and try it! You’ll be so glad you did.

Susan Markowitz is founder and director of Pivotal Pilates Fitness and Wellness.  Since achieving her full Pilates certification 2004 through Pilates International in NYC, she went on to complete three other International Pilates certifications giving her four different methods of teaching Pilates.  Susan’s goal has been to incorporate a multitude of modalities, offering her clients an integrated experience of wellness and fitness.  She has been teaching under the supervision of DPT’s, and other medical professionals to perfect her programming techniques for rehabilitation and strength training. Specializing in pre/postnatal Pilates, joint and spine injuries and others special conditions, Susan’s focus continues to be rehabilitation and athletic conditioning and the recruitment of the deeper, local stabilizing muscles of the core and spine. Pivotal Pilates opened its doors in September 2010, and moved to its new spacious location July, 2011 at 952 Route 34, Suite 206 in Matawan. Call 646-239-5597 or email [email protected] for more information.