Why Pilates?

I usually avoid eavesdropping but there are times where it is simply unavoidable. And being stuck in a small crowd in a tiny entry way is one of those times. As I was waiting outside a pilates studio – hurriedly sorting through dozens of WhatsApp messages from assorted mammy groups – and suddenly overheard my colleague’s name and the hospital name come up in the conversation next to me… Someone told their doctor they were starting pilates. and he was very encouraging that they keep going with it. There was exchanged surprise that the doctor was so enthusiastic about pilates. I just kept on scrolling through WhatsApp child birthday party messages – but was just delighted to hear something like that.It’s not just patients: I’ve recently returned to Reformer Pilates for the first time since before the Pandemic. A new studio opened close to home recently — just in time to change up my workout for the winter.

Pilates has grown in popularity as a low impact exercise with benefits such as balance, flexibility, pain reduction, disability reduction and mood. There have been clinical studies, and while some results are inconclusive, there is good evidence for it’s use in preventative and rehabilitation medicine.