Pilates

[mears]

What are the benefits?

Can anyone recommend a good video to get me started?

Can't recommend vid but it is good for you, honest - er, clenches stomach muscles, decides not to email you a pic

I think it may be best if you can get to a couple of lesson first-the exercises are quite subtle at times and a teacher would be able to guide you.
That said,I've never been to a class!I bought a Pilates Performer and have (just)started to use it again.I was very impressed by the results after just a couple of weeks.
As for videos-I got one with the machine so I've never had to buy one,I'll be interested in any replies that you get.

The benefits are - builds 'core' strength,lengthens rather than builds muscle and it is'nt weight bearing.I have a bad back and now pain in my knees and hips-the physio told me that pilates was vv good for all of these things,as it re balances you.

Benefits +++, Mears!
Its all about retraining your "core stability" These are the postural muscles around your trunk-tummy, back, pelvic floor- that keep you upright. They support your spine inthe optimal position with least amount of effort, yet we are a lazy species and dont bother using them most of the time, hence poor posture, back strain, neck strain, shoulder and hip probs etc. It also teaches breathing and balance.
Definitely pick out a beginners video so that it teaches you the basics and the simple progressions. I would really recommend a class so that the instructor can answer any qus and guide you into the right positions. Its not easy to feel you are doing it correctly to begin with and a big mirror is helpful for posture correction etc. Once you are confident of what you are doing and aiming for, then go on to a video, in which case a more intermediate one or one recommended by a class instructor perhaps.

I used elements of pilates as a physio in my home exs and pushed people to follow it up with classes if at all poss. I'm off to my pilates class in a mo, as its a great exs programme for pregnancy.
Good luck and go for it!

Yes, it's fantastic, and has changed my life (really!).

You need to distinguish between Pilates-lite as offered in gyms and the real thing in a specialised studio.

In the latter case, they usually insist that you start with a one-to-one session so that they can assess you and look for any potential problems, and also make sure you're using your lower abdominals correctly. The movement is quite subtle, but you REALLY need to get it right, as otherwise many of the exercises can put a strain on your lower back or neck.

Done correctly and consistently it will give you stomach muscles of steel and change your posture and the way you use your body. It's also very good for strengthening muscles without giving you that bulky, pumping-iron look. But I wouldn't recommend DIY as a way to start.

This is the Body Control Pilates website, which is the kind that I've done. They have an instructor search facility.

hth

I have found Pilates fantastic for stomach and pelvic floor strength. In fact, because of the Pilates, damage to part of my pelvic floor from when I had ds was not obvious as the "other" pelvic floor muscles are so strong, I have had none of the "normal" problems. I have also had a private session with my Pilates instrucutor, which has changed my position slightly to "engage" my front pelvic floor muscles more easily.

A good Pilates instructor really knows all the muscles groupls and will work very carefully to balance/not over train/strtch/strengthen them all conrrectly. My instructor, Louise Stearn, seems to have trained most of the physios in central Scotland at some point. I know she worked with the physios at the Queen Mums, and the physio who ran the post natal exercise classes also went to one of Louise's classes, and used to incorporate various bits of Pilates into her own classes. The physio I am currently seeing at the Southern General has also had some in-service training with her.

It is important to start with a good, accreditted instructor. The BodyControl Pilates instructors have to go thorugh a rigourous training and examination process.

I would actually recommend having a private session before starting to use a video, although if that is not possble, I ould use one of the Body Control videos.

I started Pilates at about the time of getting pregnant with ds. (Louise only let me continue because I showed enough awareness of my body and all I had to really learn was the breathing techniques.) my stomach muscles had never been strong, so it made my day later inthe pregnancy when the GP said that he had difficulty examining my stomach as the muscles were so strong.

It also helped teach me breathing and later in the pregnancy, when there were certain exercises I couldn't do, Louise had me practising RELEASING my muscles, as well as pulling them up.

You can tell I'm a convert! But I can't emphasise enough how important a good instructor is, at least to get you started and to be sure that you are using the right technique. Ask some of your physios at your hospital if there is anyone in Ayrshire they would recommend.

Thanks for all that. Thanks for the link too. I have searched it and I actually know one of the Instructors. I haven't seen her for a long time but we used to see each other at toddler group many years ago. What a small world.
I'll give her a ring and get personal instruction first.