We understand that Pilates and yoga aren’t classes typically taken by footballers, rugby players or male athletes in general. However, we’re prepared to bust that myth.
According to the NHS, completing at least two yoga or Pilates sessions a week can improve your strength, flexibility and balance—and will help you meet the recommended weekly amount of muscle-strengthening activities.
Our classes are operated to the highest possible standard and are designed to ensure your body benefits. Pilates can vary greatly depending on the way it is taught, and we see a lot of people who are damaging their body as a result of performing Pilates incorrectly.
We can also help you to understand the benefits that Pilates and yoga can provide when taken alongside typical weight lifting or cardio workouts, including:
- Improve the quality of other training
Both Pilates and yoga are strengthening activities that help to restore your body’s natural posture by focusing on a different set of muscles than ones typically used in weight training or aerobics.
Pilates works your deep core stabilising muscles, the ones that are occasionally ignored in favour for your larger muscle groups, the mobilisers like biceps and hamstrings. And NSIC’s method of dynamic yoga improves spinal mobility and alignment.
By supplementing your normal workout routine with these strength-building classes that focus on your core muscle tissue, you can ensure that you don’t rely on larger muscles. This will improve the quality of your other workouts and prevent injury.
- Prevent injuries
Both yoga and Pilates are known for improving flexibility and balance, which in turn can prevent sports-related injury like strains, tears or falls. Strengthen your knees and ankles with yoga poses, improve joint health and bone density with Pilates and stop worrying about getting injured on the football pitch.
- Relieve lower back pain
These core-muscle workouts are each proven to help strengthen your lower back, a commonly painful area amongst athletes.
- Reduce stress
Although most of our services typically rely completely on the specific application of our scientific knowledge, yoga combines strength training with spirituality. Breathing while flowing from one posture to the next allows your body to return to its natural harmonised state of structural integrity. In simpler terms: taking some time to relax and de-stress can help you sleep better and improve your overall well-being.
- Reduce recovery time (and pain)
Through Pilates or yoga, you can strengthen a wider range of muscles instead of relying on a few, and improve flexibility, joint health and posture. This could improve your workout, reduce your recovery time and erase pain you typically feel after a workout.
Convinced? Check out NSIC’s class timetable here. Still sceptical? Contact one of our fitness instructors to learn more about the health benefits from these strength-training classes.