As a Pilates practitioner, I work with a wide variety of people who choose to do Pilates for vastly different reasons.  However, one of the constants throughout the years is a steady stream of people who have been told there is nothing more that can be done for them medically or that the pain they are experiencing is unexplained.  The only solution offered to them is pain relief medication and the people I see are searching for something more than a lifelong dependence on medication, that in many cases, isn't even an adequate solution.  This is where Pilates comes in and offers hope to these people and this is why Pilates is often considered "the last resort".  They may get relief from other therapies but it's only temporary so if Pilates doesn't work for them, there is nothing else left for them to try, which is a very daunting prospect.  Fortunately for the vast majority of people that I have worked with over the years in this situation, Pilates or...

Photo by evgenyatamanenko 

One of the reasons I'm so passionate about Pilates is because there are so many different aspects to it.  Relieving stress and anxiety is just one of the many amazing benefits Pilates provides.  Pilates breathing techniques are powerful and I use these techniques myself to stay calm when I'm dealing with stress.  I've lost count of the number of clients who have also successfully used their Pilates breathing to restore calm either for a one-off situation or to control ongoing anxiety.  Deep breathing triggers a physiological response that helps to calm the nervous system and quieten the mind.  It's not only the breathing techniques that help restore calm but the combination of breath and movement when we practice Pilates allows us to relax and go within and focus on staying in the present moment.

I wish I had known about Pilates during my teen years.  The relaxation aspect would have been so helpful in dealing with all the challenges teenagers...

When Kathy started Pilates with me in January last year she was dealing with ongoing, painful knee issues and was extremely motivated to find a solution and become pain-free.  She had already been attending a Pilates mat class for about 18 months when she came to me but she felt she needed additional specific strengthening to assist her condition to avoid surgery or delay it as long as possible.  As an active 69 year old grandmother of 6 young grandchildren, including a set of twins, she wanted to be physically strong and fit to enjoy caring for and playing with her grandkids, without constant pain.  She also enjoys challenging walks and travel so knee pain was really preventing her from living her best life possible.  Kathy continued her mat class and followed JS Mind Body Pilates Online, my online studio, initially with exercise suggestions from me.  She was extremely diligent with her Pilates practice and she...

Photo by Dean Mitchell

Being faced with the prospect of requiring surgery can be a daunting experience for many people.  The more physically and mentally prepared you are in the lead up can really assist with the initial surgery and recovery period and Pilates ticks all the boxes for this.  Over the years, many of my clients have practiced Pilates to avoid surgery and for the vast majority, this has been enormously successful.  With appropriate strengthening based on individual needs, many people have been able to delay or completely eliminate the need for surgery such as spinal or joint replacement surgery for example.  However, for some people,  surgery really is the only option to allow them to live their best life possible or in some cases, save their life.  If this is the case, Pilates is the perfect preparation in the lead up to surgery and is then equally beneficial for effective recovery.

Pilates & Elective Surgery

The advantage of elective...