Pilates for Golfers

PILATES FOR GOLFERS

How to improve your golf game.  Adding Pilates to your life will bring numerous health benefits.

A strong and flexible body is the best piece of equipment a golfer can bring to the game. An average golfer’s spine coils and uncoils 100 – 130 times in one direction over an average 4-hour game. This unnatural twisting of spine over and over again results in lower back pain for 75% of golfers after a game. A golf pro can help correct a golfer’s technique by altering stance, grip and hip turn ratio. But the underlying fault in any golf swing is in the body itself. 

Both golf and Pilates are mind-body activities that share key basic principles. Golf swing principles are fluid motion, precision, accuracy and power; whereas Pilates principles tend to focus on control, concentration, precision, flow of motion and proper breathing techniques. You will feel the difference when you play with a stronger and more flexible body.

Pilates will improve you rotation, improve your flexibility to improve your swing.  Improve coordination, muscular endurance and range of motion.

The Pilates method is an exercise system focused on improving flexibility and strength for the total body while also enhancing posture, balance, and coordination. It is particularly effective in developing core strength from the shoulders to the pelvis, this is vital for 40 plus golfers who want to stay fit and enjoy their game pain free.

Pilates is based on quality (fewer repetitions) rather than quantity. The movement is more focused and intense. It is a safe and effective approach that provides the benefits of stretching, strengthening, and control, while keeping the whole body balanced. It's about focus … keeping the mind connected to the body, mind/body.

Pilates exercises are crucial to every golf conditioning program. Start incorporating Pilates in your golf conditioning programmes and you will see remarkable changes within a month. Pilates is suitable for everyone at all fitness levels. You will be surprised to know that bad swings are usually due to your posture or the way you sit or stand.

BarreConcept

June has been a busy and exciting month.  Continuing to enjoy teaching my fabulous clients who are always open to trying new things, and are loving the results of all the hard work they put in.

One client in particular has lost 7lbs in just over a month and several inches, very exciting for me, I share her excitement, this also reaffirms why I do what I do and am always looking for new ways to help them.

At the beginning of June I ventured off to Ottawa to participate in a Barreconcept Certification Course which was held over 4 days (32 Hours), one of the most in depth courses available, and one I highly recommended.  Emma Newham (Pilates Union) is an amazing teacher, full of insight,inspiration, knowledge,boundless energy and enthusiasm.  This was the first certification course held in Canada, it was so popular word has got around and there will be another one in October.

The group of ladies attending were totally amazing.  We all worked extremely hard.  On the first day Emma put us through a very, very, thorough Barre workout which had us all dripping, thighs shaking and most certainly aware of our butts, which actually seemed higher.  

The course was informative, we were encouraged to think "outside the box" which added another range of different exercises to the ones that were already in the manual.

I am in the process of putting together and taping my practical video after which I am hoping to become a Certified Barreconcept Instructor.   Looking forward to teaching this, so much fun and you can certainly feel everything working.

Participating in a Full Certification and accredited course was a great decision for me, I did look at other courses out there and Emma's was the most in depth course.  I realize there are other courses out there that are much shorter in duration, but to be honest I don't see how anyone could possibly learn the whole repertoire in a one or two day course.   Excellent move on my part and looking forward to being part of the Barreconcept family.