Benefits of Pilates for Athletes and Dancers

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Dancers were the first community to embrace pilates and recognize its benefits. Athletes have also discovered Pilates for its benefits and rehabilitative purposes.

Benefits of Pilates for Athletes and Dancers

There are many benefits to be gained from Pilates. The research and testimonials on athletes and dancers speak for itself. First, looking at dancers, research has been conducted as the benefits Pilates has provided in relation to their performance abilities.

In a review article published Fall 2006 in the Journal of Dance Medicine and Science, the outcomes of studies conducted on dancers were outlined. The dancers participated in Mat Pilates daily for seven weeks and researchers found a significant increase in the shoulder, hip, and knee flexion and extension strength, and a significant improvement in pelvic alignment during static posture at the end of the study.

In a similar study, dancers participated in Pilates classes three days per week for six weeks and were found to have significantly improved body alignment, the intention of movement, and body expression.

There have been numerous studies performed on dancers, and improvements in strength, flexibility, range of motion, and performance were found in nearly all the studies. As mentioned previously, there are so many similarities between dance and Pilates practice and they enhance and complement one another.

In a study that looked at the effects of Pilates training on athletic performance, leap height, ground reaction time, and explosive power were all tested and measured. Elite gymnasts participated in the study and practiced Pilates one to two times per week for just over a month. It was found that all of the variables increased significantly after just one month of practice.

Training Tips When Working with Dancers and Athletes

When working with highly trained participants, they may find the exercises to be easy to master and may progress more quickly than the average client.

It is also important to recognize that athletes and dancers are typically more in tune with their bodies, alignment, posture, and body mechanics so as an instructor, you are able to really focus on terminology, cueing, and honing in on particular muscle groups.

You may also find that you can increase the intensity and resistance of the exercises, and perhaps even incorporate props more quickly into a mat workout. With athletes especially, you may have to re-educate them on how Pilates differs from a typical strength and conditioning workout and that they may not leave the studio feeling sweaty, exhausted, and sore.

The benefits from Pilates will present themselves much differently than the results they are used to from weight training. Working with a higher-performing clientele base can really keep you on your toes as an instructor and continue to encourage you to keep up with your own conditioning.

Pr-screening is Still Important

Even though athletes and dancers are typically very fit, conditioned, active individuals, it is still important to complete the pre-screening, health history, and waiver as you would with any clientele population. You may need to be aware of injuries (past and current), other training they are currently involved in, and wherein the season they are with their conditioning. These variables may change the intensity and progression of the mat class and exercises performed.

Looking at all the populations an instructor could potentially work with, it is important to keep in mind that each participant will have a different set of abilities, limitations, and modifications. During classes with multiple students of varying levels (which is typically what you will see), it is important to give modifications that will both decrease and increase the difficulty and intensity to accommodate all in the class, and constantly gives cues and reminders on posture, form, and technique.

Try to get a feel for the energy of the class and modify your teaching style using that feedback. As an instructor, you need to be flexible in your style to accommodate all that are participating and the energy level of that particular class. Go into class with a definite plan in mind and confidence in your teaching abilities and knowledge. Most importantly, have fun and encourage your clients, no matter what population they may fall into, to have fun as well.

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