NO PAIN, NO GAIN
There are no gains without pains. ~ Benjamin Franklin
Wait – don’t leave yet! Hear me out. I promise this is a goodie.
I’m not taking the exercise motto that we all know so well (no pain, no gain) of greater reward for the price of hard and sometimes painful work. You know, the one that athletes and Olympians probably swear by. Some amount of suffering for excellence.
I’m coming at it from the point of view of if you have pain, then there’s something to learn from it, something to gain from it. What is your body telling you? Are you listening to it? What changes can you make to alleviate it, or even better so you don’t feel pain? How can you treat your body well so it can function better for whatever you need it to do in your daily life?
Most people experience some amount of back pain at some point in their lives. In fact, it’s more common than you think. I read 4 out of 5 of us experience back pain some time in our life. It’s so easy to reach for Advil, Aleve, insert your drug of choice here. It’s also easy to use a heating pad, or to take a hot bath with Epsom salts. Finally, it’s easy to stay in bed. These are all great as short-term remedies. The long-term solution is Pilates. Yeah, you heard me right!
Pilates can be effective for relieving back pain. How… you ask? Pilates improves core strength, increases muscle strength, improves flexibility which all leads to better posture. Practicing Pilates consistently can help manage the pain. The body was meant to move, not to remain stationary and sedentary.
Now I know the cause of back pain can be different conditions – general stiffness, poor posture, herniated discs. Always best to consult with a doctor before beginning an exercise routine, especially if the back pain you’re feeling is persistent or recurring.
Pilates meets your body where it is today. There are exercises you can do on your back, on your belly, on your butt, on your knees, and on your feet. Writing that felt like an alternative reality to Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss! We’ll stabilize the spine, and mobilize the spine. We’ll loosen what’s tight, and tighten what’s loose. Equal parts strength and flexibility with a whole lot of control.
Pilates is about the quality of movement, so there aren’t a lot of reps. The focus is on how you perform the movement, not the end result. Think of Pilates as the user’s manual to the body, and how to use it as efficiently and effectively as possible, so the right muscles are recruited to act every time. When the right muscles are recruited, there is less tightness, less stiffness, less pain, and more of life to gain.
Tell me about your back pain, and I’ll tell you how Pilates is the medicine you need!