This weeks 10 Minute Online Pilates Practise Video is all about the Glut muscles. What are the Gluts? They are a group of 3 muscles that make up the buttocks. The Gluts stabilise the Pelvis, keep movement in the hip joints and when they are strong the lower back doesn’t take all the stress! They are one of the most important muscles in the body and the one we neglect the most due to the lifestyles we lead! Sitting at a computer or in a car all day doesn’t help our Gluts! By sitting a lot the gluts become less active and other muscles take over and change, causing dysfunction in the bodies mechanics! Having weak gluts and other muscles being dominate can cause problems with everyday tasks and sports.
When preforming the shoulder bridge – do you often get cramp in your hamstrings? I know I see it a lot in Pilates classes! So what’s happening? Other muscles are doing more work or have changed so that the glut can’t work as effectively. So in a Shoulder Bridge the hamstrings are doing most of the work and the Glut has turned off! Pilates is a great way to work on this area to strengthen the Glut, stretch out other muscles and to help reduce the stresses on lower backs.