Fibromyalgia sufferers will find a love of Pilates once they explore all that this exercise style has to offer. Stretching and strengthening are the key components of this exercise, which makes it the perfect physical activity for decreasing your fibromyalgia symptoms.
Modification is a large part of Pilate’s success as each individual exercise can be adapted to fit the needs of the individual completing the exercise. Pilates is low impact, increases flexibility, builds muscle, builds strength and if you stick will it you will see results in your overall health. Staying hydrated and active can decrease your fibromyalgia symptoms and help you feel in control of your life again.
Low Impact is Better for Your Joints and Results in Less Pain
The low impact nature of Pilate’s makes it one of the best exercises for you when suffering from the pain of fibromyalgia. Naturally when you are in pain it may seem like exercising will make it worse, but in fact; exercising can make you feel much better. The low impact exercises that make up Pilate’s offer a way for you to work out without causing additional stress on your joints and muscles.
Stretching the muscles with Pilate’s exercises helps to elongate your muscles and release harmful toxins, which is essential for anyone who has pain. Staying sedentary will make your muscles atrophy and tighten which can, in fact, lead to more intense pain and more difficulties in moving around. Take the time to explore the simple beginning exercises of Pilate’s to see if you can see a difference in your joints and your pain.
Increase your Flexibility and Decrease your Pain
Being flexibly is not something we all associate with being pain free, but as a fibromyalgia sufferer it is certainly something you should explore. Flexibility is done through the consistent elongation of your muscles, over a period of time. You cannot become flexible from one day of participating in stretching; it is an activity you will need to work on over several weeks and months.
Pilate’s is the perfect exercise for anyone who wants to increase their flexibility. Each exercise in the Pilate’s system works together to build muscle and elongate your muscles, this elongation leads to an increased flexibility. You can add additional stretching activities to your Pilate’s schedule if you want to increase your muscles flexibility.
Build Muscle without Bulking Up your Body
It is important to build and maintain your muscle mass, no matter what physical ailments you suffer from. Muscle helps your body process food and burn calories, it is also a key component in supporting your joints. Building muscle often has the connotation of bulking up someone’s body, although that is certainly not a fact.
The truth is, you can build muscle and maintain a sleek trim figure. With Pilate’s the act of building muscle is combined with increasing the flexibly and core muscle strength of your body. When you first get started with Pilate’s you might not feel like you are building a lot of muscle, but each exercise requires your muscle strength to do it and you will naturally be growing stronger.
Using a Trapeze Table to Feel Stable
When first getting started with Pilate’s you might not feel stable enough, or strong enough, to complete the exercises on your own. The Trapeze Table is a great way to support you during your training in Pilate’s. The table offers the physical support you need to complete Pilate’s exercises while also offering you the mental support as you get more comfortable with the art of Pilate’s. Used in the comfort of a Pilate’s studio, you may find that the Trapeze Table makes Pilate’s more fun and enjoyable than you ever thought possible. Try to slowly transition to doing some of the exercises on your own as you feel your strength grow.
Stick with It for Maximum Results
Fibromyalgia is not going to feel better instantly when you start Pilates. In fact, you might even feel some new stiffness or soreness as you start to become more physically active. Stick to your Pilate’s routine and make an effort to participate, at least a couple times each week. You will start to notice your strength building, flexibility increasing and feeling less tenderness. Discuss with your doctor some limitations and any concerns you may have about using Pilate’s as your physical activity. You may also want to incorporate some swimming, biking or walking into your weekly physical activities to ensure you are not overusing any one muscle group.
Drink up while you Work Out
Pilates is not one of those exercises where you will get extremely sweaty, but it is still important that you take the time to hydrate with plenty of water. Even if you are not feeling thirsty, take breaks and drink your water during your workout. Water is an important factor in your muscle growth and will be essential to your body eliminating toxins that you have freed from your muscles during your Pilate’s workout. Drink at least 64 ounces of water every day and discuss the possibility of drinking more water with your physician based on your physical activity and weight.
Taking care of yourself throughout your fibromyalgia diagnosis involves a lot of different aspects. You need to eat right, exercise and try to avoid triggers. Pilate’s is a great way to get your exercise in without doing harm to your joints or feeling overwhelmed by physical activity.
The joy of Pilate’s is you can do as little or as much as you feel up to, depending on the day and your health at that time. You can do Pilate’s in a gym with a Trapeze Table and an instructor, or at home with a DVD and your living room floor. Pilate’s is the perfect exercise to build strength, without bulking up your muscles and to increase your flexibility without causing pain to your joints. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about starting a new exercise routine. Take it slow when you first begin Pilate’s and build up to longer periods of workout time. Pilate’s is the perfect exercise for beginners and individuals in very good shape.
Further reading
Exercise and Fibromyalgia:
https://medicalfitnessnetwork.org/conditions/exercise-fibromyalgia/
Pilates for Fibromyalgia:
https://www.pilates.com/BBAPP/V/pilates/library/articles/pilates-for-fibromyalgia.html
Effect of pilates training on people with fibromyalgia syndrome: a pilot study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19969158
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