5 Little Known Benefits Of Pilates As You Age

Pilates is often considered a mystery to those who have yet to discover it's incredible benefits. For the more than 12 million people around the world who already practise Pilates, it is life-changing. Here are 5 little known benefits that you too can experience if you make PIlates part of your life too.

Maintain & Improve Your Sex Life

If you have good body awareness, are strong and flexible and not in chronic pain  it's logical that you would be more likely to engage in and enjoy sex with your partner.  After all, sex is a highly physical activity and if you are physically fit it can improve your overall experience and connection to your partner. This leads to a fulfilling sex life throughout your life together.  A couple in their late 30s who both attended my Pilates sessions about 10 years now experienced just how destructive chronic pain could be for their marriage.  After they had been practising Pilates for around a year, the husband approached me privately to thank me for saving his marriage.  His wife had been suffering debilitating back pain for 4 years before Pilates and they slept in separate beds.  Even the slightest touch could aggravate his wife's back pain, leaving her in agony, so sex had been out of the question for several years.  As she had been pain-free for 6 months they were back together in the same bed and trying to start a family. They went on to have 3 children and couldn't be happier.  Pilates works on keeping the pelvic floor muscles strong and flexible which is essential for good sex. These muscles are vital for good sexual function in both men and women. Weak pelvic floor muscles can lead to erectile dysfunction in men and loss of sensation and the inability to orgasm in women.  Actively keeping your pelvic floor muscles strong as you age is vital not just for your sexual function but your overall health as you will see below.

Avoid Incontinence As You Age

Many people accept Incontinence as normal.  Experiencing urine leakage when you cough or laugh is definitely not a normal condition.  Both men and women alike are often too embarrased to seek help or are unsure about what to do in this situation.  High impact sports that involve running and jumping on hard surfaces can weaken pelvic floor muscles as can pregnancy and childbirth.  Pilates involves srengthening of the pelvic floor muscles which form an important part of the core or centre.  If you want to avoid wearing a nappy or having pelvic floor surgery for incontinence, strengthening the pelvic floor with Pilates is for you.  It's preferable to begin strengthening before you have incontinence but if you are already experiencing this, daily strengthening of the pelvic floor muscles with Pilates is exactly what you need to allevaite this condition.

 
You Can Actively Play With Your Grandkids

Lana, one of my 70 year old clients who has 3 grandchildren aged 7, 4 and 2, prides herself on being able to actively play piggy back and horsey where the children ride on her back like a horse, without any repercussions afterwards.  Having overcome back and shoulder pain with Pilates, in addition to active play, she often has the children sleepover at weekends and has no difficulty keeping up with all their needs.  She takes them on walks, lifts them in and out of her car and enjoys cooking their favourite meals. Without her Pilates practice of more than 8 years none of this would be possible and she would be limited to short visits where her grandchildren would see her as "too old"" to be any fun.  So if you want to be a hands on grandparent and make memories your grankids will cherish, Pilates is for you!

You Get Quality "Me Time"

Whether you are busy caring for an ill partner or relative, hold down a demanding job or are supporting a friend through a crisis, it's easy to neglect your own self care.  If you don't actively factor in some time for your self, days, weeks and months can pass by and befote you know it, you are run down, resentful and physically unfit.  Structuring some Pilates into your day can lift your mood and give you that essential time to check in with yourself.  Whether you are having a 1 on 1 virtual session with me via Skype or using my on demand library of videos you will feel calm and energised and ready to face the world again after your session.  As Pilates is a mind body connection, you will become stronger and fitter physically while simultaneously  becoming more focused and able to cope with the pressures around you. Practising Pilates is a very productive way of taking time out for yourself.

You Can Stay Pain-Free With Pilates

As you age it's common to experience various types of joint pain such as back, knee and shoulder pain as well as issues such as bursitis and muscle tears.  Practising Pilates can help you to overcome and manage these conditions so you are pain-free and can move with ease so you can keep enjoying life well into your retirement years.  Many people associate Pilates with general fitness and don't realise it can be used to successfully rehabilitate from and prevent a range of conditions.  My online Pilates studio is specifically designed to help you recover from pain and injury in the convenience of your own home and maintain your health and fitness well into your retirement years.

Through my online Pilates program I can really help you to develop and maintain the core strength and flexibility you need to experience all these amazing benefits of Pilates well into your later years. Contact me at [email protected] if you have any questions.  If you would like to be part of my unique online Pilates community and keep moving with ease as you age, click HERE to read about what options I have available.  I'd love to help you begin your Pilates journey and discover that age is no barrier to enjoying a long, happy life!