Pilates

[Clarella]

So I've finally caved into pressure from just about everyone after being diagnosed with hms and told that pilates will be the bees knees.

I've had a really bad do with muscle loss recently; when better and actually well I used to do a lot of swimming, cycling and yoga.

I do need the yoga as actually I suffer from tight muscles but clearly I also need the better control and core. I did a v good course years ago and found it painfully dull though my friend has assured me a good class shouldn't be.

Please sell me pilates, but specifically how it has helped with weakness, pain etc. What is easier/ better than before? I particularly struggle with arms, shoulders and wrists hms wise.

The yoga I did (forrest yoga) was quite strengthening and did a lot of upside down wall work, plus I used to play capoeira quite seriously. So I've lost the upper body strength/ control. Will Pilates help? Tricky to get to my old yoga class regularly at the mo.

Pilates has been a revelation for me.
I've spent a fortune at the physio, chiropractor, massages for my bad back.

I've had a few 1 to 1 sessions and had my first pain free day in years afterwards.
I now go to a small class once a week and do a little at home everyday.

I think pilates should be available on the NHS.
Go for it op. What have you got to lose?

Thank you for this fabulous endorsement!

I've booked on a course (hopefully, better check on payment!) it's just trying to make me stick to it!

I do find it interesting you've got so much out of it over osteo etc. But I guess joint and muscle pain is mechanical and pilates is very much about realigning and strengthening those mechanics.

Our nhs physio runs a pilates course actually but you still have to pay for it.

That's great.
First step to getting you back to good health.
When's your first class?

I can now get my socks on without sitting down.
Big achievement for me

Make sure you tell the instructor about your condition so they can adjust the exercises as necessary. I go to a Body Control Pilates class where pretty well everyone has an injury or physical condition of some description (I have prolapses and intermittent back problems) and we all modify as appropriate. My core strength has improved massively since starting it and I use my core muscles far better in every day life now I am aware of them. My upper body hasn't benefitted as much, we tend to focus on core and legs, but it does get a workout and you can always do specific exercises at home once you know what to do.

Thanks yes it's a dedicated pilates centre with all the equipment etc, medical forms to fill in etc. And I've had a 1:1. I did notice the difference after that actually so hopefully it will help. I've come on quite a bit since then as was suffering from anaemia amongst other things but am clearly suffering from the joy of hypermobility syndrome quite badly and need to target core more. I'm swimming and can do some upside down wall yoga stuff to help upper body, downward dog, dolphin etc.

Well the woman was a bit of a slave driver but clearly very good abs very precise. They won't let us move up till the first course is done and they're happy we can access the next level in terms of understanding the language.

I'm clearly much more hypermobile in some areas and stiff in others than I realised!

Pilates is the reason my DH did not need back surgery.
Simple.

I have significant back and other random joint issues due to inflammatory arthritis and do a weekly physio led Pilates course and would do it every day if I could afford it!I bought the appi Pilates DVD and practice at home as much as possible. I've just started a class at my leisure centre that seems more fitness orientated and I certainly wouldn't have survived it a year ago.the leisure centreone is quite fast paced. I see the Pilates as a for life thing now.

What's the DVD you bought?
I'm doing body control pilates at the moment in a weekly class but would like to do more at home.

This is interesting. I have been told to take up Pilates for a bad back. I bought a DVD, but found that some of the excercises made it worse, and some I couldn't do due to pain issues. E.g I couldn't do anything which needed me to to put my hands on the floor, as I couldn't support myself in the wrist region. I couldn't do anything involved laying on either side as this hurt my legs too much. So I gave up. Not sure what to do now.

Orange, perhaps find out if your local physio service (nhs) run a pilates course as they'll be more geared to your issues.

I'm finding (and they're saying) that the beginners course is very much about learning the basics - the language, the proprioception of how base positions feel and the breathing. I think I'm doing it right and then she positions me differently; this is how to get the best out of it from what I can tell. I experienced all this with yoga and only now can self practice in yoga at home as the positions are so familiar. The extra detail she gave in class I've not gained from DVDs etc; these would be to supplement so to speak.

As positions become more familiar, muscles alter and then you can build on these, strenghtening them etc.

I can't weight bare in my right wrist at the moment and she gave me a half foam roller for the four point kneeling. This helped a lot.
The advantage of a class is someone can adjust for your needs.

I can see it becoming a for life thing for me too.

The type of pilates I've joined is body control - anything linked to Lynn robinson. Apparently she learnt from someone who trained with Joseph pilates so it's close to the original stuff (I think!)

Body control pilates would help you orange
Search online for a local teacher and try having a one to one.

Yes, mine is a Body Control class and the teacher is very thorough about everyone getting the positions exactly right, describes in detail what to do and then walks round and nudges us if we're a bit out, all without making you feel at all self conscious. She also explains how it affects different parts of the body and how that affects every day movements, which is interesting. DVDs are great once you've been doing it a while, but they are no substitute for a teacher when you are a beginner, especially if you have pre-existing injuries or medical conditions.