Posted by Jennifer Popper on Mon, Nov 03, 2008 @ 12:28 PM
Someone close to me recently experienced a back injury. It was on a normal Sunday. We had played tennis in the morning, but it wasn't until he was doing something so simple later that night, something he does every single day, that his back seized up.
Okay, this someone is my husband. I had already gone to bed, so I wasn't even aware of the pain he was in until the next morning. He went to work, but ended up coming home early; he has rarely done this in the entire time we've been together. He struggled through that first week, going to work one day, and then working from home the next. Then, he worked from home that whole second week, with a few breaks for short, strained walks in the afternoon, and some trips to the chiropractor. My husband is someone who does not like to take medicine, but he finally broke down and went to a doctor who prescribed a low dosage steroid. Thankfully, he's up and moving, and back to work.
Now why should you care about my husband's back injury? Well, did you know that Pilates can play a role in the healing process, with better body alignment and body awareness education. The likelihood of injuring yourself also decreases after practicing Pilates over a period of time, due to your increased strength and flexibility.
There is a woman I know down at the Jersey Shore. She teaches Pilates, and whenever I can, I try to schedule some one-on-one time with her for an invigorating Pilates workout. My husband likes to say that she's my mentor... he's not really wrong. And because I respect her and trust her implicitly, I suggested to him that he take my appointment this weekend to learn more about Pilates and how practicing it can strengthen his back to prevent further injury.
I went with him to the private session. She reviewed the basics, she went through some beginner to intermediate exercises with him, and he was breaking a sweat. I was merely a model for her to demonstrate correct positions and movement. But I still had a good time, even learned a thing or two myself. It's always good to get back to basics. And I even caught my husband correcting his posture the next day. He saw me looking at him in a crowded room and smiled; he knew what was going through my mind.
Pilates isn't just a class you take once or twice a week. It builds mind-body awareness that carries over into the everyday. We'd love to hear how Pilates has helped to change your life, whether it was rehabilitative, or something you just happened to stumble upon, and got hooked. Share your comments below.
Until next time!