The Perfect Combo: Pilates & Massage

What's the Big Deal?

"[Pilates] was created as a way to heal the body, to realign the skeleton and balance the muscles. As a society, we are out of alignment [...] We are stressed, and we carry the stress in our bodies" (Classic Form Pilates). Pilates helps manage stress; massage helps manage stress. Both Pilates and massage address the entire body and help individuals lead balanced and healthy lives.

Practical Examples

For starters, Pilates may be a safe and effective way to exercise for those with low back pain. When using the pilates reformer, you can often exercise with your back completely supported, instead of exposing it to the possible strain that can occur when using free weights. Pilates also recruits abdominal muscles that are critical in stabilizing your body and maintaining good posture. Sitting with a strong core and better posture (instead of hunched over at a desk) can help decrease neck and shoulder pain.

Pilates can help retrain and strengthen muscles that contribute to common injuries or muscle tension and soreness, while massage may help increase range of motion, relax over-stretched muscles and decrease hypertonicity. Pilates is a way of exercising that assists in establishing all-over strength and openness. So, a tailored pilates session may help sustain the positive effects of massage--all in a safe and supported environment.

As our friends at Young Pilates said, "Pilates has grown in popularity for one simple reason: it works."