Pilates and the Benefits for Show Skiers

Now everyone has heard of Pilate's, but there is often a mystique behind this fitness movement. I consider Pilate's a strange combination of yoga and torture, just kidding. One of the main benefits behind Pilate's is the subtle movements and the ability to adjust the exercise to your needs and skills. Joseph Pilate's, a martial arts instructor, developed his rehabilitation program during the WW I era. He was detained in Germany and developed his method of exercises to help other detainees in the hospital for rehabilitation purposes. This is important to know because Pilate's does not involve fast movement, rather deliberate slow exercise. What amazes me about Pilate's is the slow and controlling movements really tone and strengthen the core muscles, which are important for any water skier. Pilate's is not just for women. Men would find the program extremely beneficial and challenging. This is why. Pilate's is a mind body workout. It is important to have an instructor that continuously talks you through the exercise. Each exercise involves controlling specific muscles and spine. Pilate's involves control of your body, along with breathing. For example, you may only do a total of 5 sit-ups during a 60 minute session of Pilate's exercises, but you will definitely feel your abdominal muscles the next day. Pilate's sit-ups are slow and deliberate, and 5 will be enough. When doing sit-ups, you focus on the transverse abdominal muscles through breathing and control each body part throughout the exercise. Sounds easy, it's not. The great benefits to Pilate's are strangely relaxation, great toning and most importantly, muscle and body control. Well, why is this important to a swivel skier? As you know, balancing on the ski and preforming a trick involves complete body control. You need to be able to adjust hips, legs, arms... in order to complete your trick. Because there are variables in water skiing: water, boat speed and movement, wind and who knows what else, the skier is always adjusting, whether you realize it or not. The skier is constantly changing the slightest hip movement, for example, to stay balanced on the ski. Knowing how to control these muscles would benefit any water enthusiast. If you get an opportunity, attend a Pilate's class at your fitness center or get a DVD from your local library. It's a perfect form of exercise for the skier. An added note, Pilate's takes practice. Learning to control your muscles and breathe right takes time. But the benefits will be worth it when you hit the water.