Pilates Remedies Back Pain

Computers have brought about marvelous changes in how we live today. Unfortunately the downside of this new and prevalent sedentary lifestyle is contributing as one of the main causes of chronic back pain.

When we spend hours sitting while working on the computer, we slump creating tightness in our shoulders and neck, we disengage our abdominal muscles, creating compression on our lower back. The Pilates method strengthens the core abdominal muscles and creates a keen awareness of personal postural alignment. Some of the most basic mat exercises like; rolling up, rolling like a ball and spine stretch forward; massage and stretch the spine while simultaneously strengthening the core abdominal muscles that Joe Pilates called the powerhouse.

A sedentary lifestyle is not what we were meant to live. Our bodies require movement to have good circulation and muscle tone. Joe Pilates spent hours observing animals in a zoo and realized they managed to keep themselves supple by their instinctive desire to stretch and move, even if the space was rather confined. It was based on these observations that he began building on his body of work which is the method practiced worldwide today.

Once you learn the correct form for the basic mat exercises you can practice them in as little as 10 minutes per day. You will improve your posture and alleviate back pain that comes from too much sitting. The general sense of well being that comes from this is priceless.

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Jump Board The jump board as an ending to a Pilates reformer workout is coming into the spotlight as some very effective cardio to compliment a traditional session. For too long the jump board was reserved for dancers and athletes who need the jumping action in their performances. No longer true....it is now used regularly for most of the experienced Pilates clients.The origin of this interesting piece has roots from the NASA space program. When they presented a prototype in 1988 in Wee Tai Horn's studio, they were working on the effects of weightlessness in space and how astronauts could simulate their movements in space. NASA used the existing Pilates reformer with its spring based design as a prototype. After the study Gratz Design (the original Pilates equipment company) took the board design idea and fit it to the classical reformer.The workout which is done supine allows the client to perform jump combinations with minimum impact and lots of strength and cardio benefits. The best part is that it is a very exhilarating way to end a session on a very high note! Our clients absolutely love doing it and many never have experienced the work out one gets from this repetitive jumping action.Pilates Benefits Men, Too It's no secret that the Pilates method provides a great workout for everyone, yet you hardly ever see any male practitioners of the fitness method. All too often it's assumed that Pilates is more suited for women, and it's doesn't help that the Pilates poster-child usually takes the form of a graceful, beautifully toned female in a leotard and leggings. Let's not forget, however, that the person who first developed the system was a man. Joseph Pilates understood that focusing on a strong core -- rather than rippling pecs or bulging biceps -- was the key to physical strength. The therapeutic benefits of Pilates extend to men as well. Many men suffer from painfully tight muscles in the lower back and hamstrings caused by day-to-day activities: sitting at a desk, mowing the lawn or playing with your kids, for example. When these muscles are tight, it feels like your life becomes just as restricted as your range of motion.As Joe Pilates himself put it, the Pilates system employs the full range of motion of a healthy human body. By emphasizing core strength and proper spinal alignment, every workout in this classical method addresses the lower back. After a few training sessions, you may be surprised to find that the muscles you've been overlooking are really the "manliest" ones in your whole body.