Benefits of doing Pilates for Runners
Pilates is a great way of adding low impact strength, mobility & flexibility into your running workouts. Taking stress from your body, a great way to recover and reduce your risk of injury.
Yes, all from doing regular Pilates.
Time is such as big reason we just go for a run and don’t add in the other bits we know we need to, until we get injured and then suddenly it becomes a bit more important!
To get the Benefits from doing Pilates for runners doesn’t need to take too much time, just 10-minutes a day or at least 3 times a week will make a difference.
Why Pilates?
Pilates is a low impact exercise which focuses on core strength, posture, flexibility and mobility. Focusing on all the areas that will benefit your running. Perfect to compliment the impact of running and giving your body time to recover.
Core strength
The core is the centre of our body, it helps keeps us upright, stable and moving. Pilates works all the muscles of the core, these muscles include the deep stomach muscles, the muscles up either side of the spine and muscles around the pelvis.
Keeping are core strong helps
- Balance, we need good balance as runners.
- Posture, having a strong core helps us stand taller.
- Injury, reduces our risks of injury
I always think of our core as the centre of a circle with the cardiovascular systems, muscles and bones on the outside and the core holding it all together. With a strong core the others work efficiently. Providing a real benefit of doing Pilates for Runners
The Pelvis
As a runner the Pelvis is KING. The alignment of the pelvis during running is so important and helps with our running motion.
Any problems with the alignment of the Pelvis means other parts of the body have to compensate and can lead to niggles or injuries. A strong core will help to keep our Pelvis aligned.
So, remember “The Pelvis is KING”
Posture
Good posture for runners helps you to run efficiently. It’s important as you tire to keep good posture. It will help you keep good running technique, help with your breathing, keeping your chest open and reduce that risk of injury. Read more in my blog How to improve your posture for running, 3 Pilates tips for beginners
A strong core will help you achieve this, yes even when you get tired.
Your day job might not help with your posture if you sit for long periods. Weakening your postural muscles – back, glutes and chest. Find out more about what happens to your body when you sit for long periods. You can listen here.
Balance
We spend ½ of our run on one leg so balance is really important. It’s an area if we don’t work at will start to deteriorate as we age and lead to more falls. Not great for a runner (especially trail runners)
A strong core help to improve your balance!
Flexibility and mobility
Being able to move your joints and muscles through good range of motions will lead to better running technique and being able to run more efficiently and reduce your risk of injury.
A few of the benefits of doing Pilates for Runners
As well as the benefits of doing Pilates for runners above, Pilates makes you more body aware, you know when things don’t feel right when running.
Pilates gives you the tools to focus on the area that may have weaken, are not moving as well or just the fact you don’t feel as strong as you’d like.
Pilates helps you reduce those risks of injury and keeps you running!
Pilates can be fun, relaxing and sometimes just what you need. Whether is a strength session or a chill out stetch session, it’s great for your body.
