Even if you’ve never tried Pilates before, you’ve probably heard a lot about it. Simply open up a gossip magazine, and you’ll read countless celebrity interviews that extol all the benefits of controlled movement and core stability (usually with an intimidating gym-honed picture and a gruelling workout schedule to match!)
Far from a meaningless fitness fad, Pilates was in fact painstakingly developed in the early twentieth century, intended to strengthen both body and mind through simple movements that promote alignment and control.
While we know how good exercise is for us, we all know how hard it is to find time when life is so busy. So what if we were to tell you that you could combine the very best Pilates principles, applied gently and correctly, with something you do every day – walking?
This is exactly what you’ll get from a Simply Stride session, not to mention all the additional benefits of fresh air and getting to know a friendly group of like-minded people.
Sounds good! But what exactly is Pilates?
Designed by Joseph Pilates (yes, it’s somebody’s actual name), the core belief of Pilates as an exercise method is that mental and physical health are inter-related. In Joseph Pilates’ original book, ‘Return to Life through Contrology’, he presented his method as the art of controlled movements.
The idea was that these movements, when performed correctly, should look and feel more like exercise than therapy, and they could therefore be accessible to everybody.
Practised regularly and with consistency, Pilates is generally known to improve flexibility, build strength, and develop control and endurance in the body. With emphasis on alignment and breathing, it is very easy to adjust the movements in line with physical capability, and to increase intensity over time as the body adapts and conditions.
Once little-known and only practised by small groups of people in specialised studios, over time Pilates has been widely studied and adapted – some adaptations would in fact have been completely unknown to its original creator!
How are Pilates principles incorporated in Stride sessions?
The principles used in our Stride sessions are from Body Control Pilates, which is recognised as the world leading Pilates method. As part of a small, friendly group, we will work to engage the stability muscles (we call this “the Cylinder”) supporting the bone structure in the body.
This control enables the organs and joints to work well, as well as promoting a general sense of wellbeing – not bad for a gentle walking session! Not only that, you’ll have the chance to spend some vital time ‘in the moment’, switching off from your hectic everyday life for a while.
Combining Pilates principles with walking, when carried out gently and correctly, can work well for everybody. However, for those with a ‘power’ attitude and for those who are already very controlled, the more relaxed principles of yoga may be more beneficial.
If you would like to experience all the benefits that just one Stride session can bring, simply contact us to arrange your first appointment. It’s as easy as that!
Additionally, if you would like to try a pure Pilates session from the comfort of a relaxing studio, Simply Striders get the benefit of a free trial pass at Shambhala Studios, Leigh-on-Sea.
And finally, if you’d like to know more about the benefits of yoga and how these too are directly incorporated into our Simply Stride sessions, why not take a look at our ‘All About Yoga’ blog post?
With Simply Stride, it’s never been easier to get the Stride Factor and feel better than ever…so what are you waiting for? Simply call us on 07967 705547 to begin your journey – literally and figuratively!
K x
