Athletes of all types who add Pilates to their workout find their performance enhanced whether they’re golfing, playing football, mountain biking, or boxing. Golfers like Tiger Woods, tennis players like Venus Williams and other professional athletes use Pilates to improve their games.
Golfers who practice Pilates find that the even, deep Pilates breathe helps them keep a clear head on the course. Improved posture and concentration allows the Pilates practicing golfer to maintain a relaxed body while maintaining proper spine alignment throughout the entire swing. Golfers who practice Pilates have better hip and shoulder flexibility, and therefore a better swing and follow-through. The strong core gained in Pilates also protects the back against injury.
Camilo Villegas, professional golfer known for his long shots, began practicing Pilates while at the University of Florida. In discussing how Pilates has affected his game, he said, “’A lot of guys are getting in shape for golf these days by lifting weights. What they don’t realize is that you need both strength and flexibility. And, of the two, flexibility is more important for golf. I’m talking about maximum flexibility and core strength.’” (http://www.golfweek.com/foryourgame/mindandbody/story/pilates-feature-030608)
Some golfers claim that Pilates even helps improve putting. According to Pilates trainer Sarah Christensen, “Golfers need precision in putting,” she said, “and that’s what Pilates is all about – smaller movements, control, good alignment, good posture.”
Accurate Pilates movements require attention to form, which is also true of most sports, including tennis. Tennis players who add Pilates to their workout find improved power behind strokes because they grow from the strong core. Pilates improves muscle control, which helps prevent over-use injuries caused by improper tennis form. Pilates also improves the body’s balance, and the mind body connection, resulting in greater spatial intelligence and better returns.
One of the biggest benefits of Pilates to tennis players may be the reduced discrepancy between strength on one side or the other. Pilates increases overall balance, and works each side of the body individually, helping balance the each side of body’s strength as well. Moreover, Pilates trains the body to use the entire core to move each side of the body, improving each side’s strength.
The list of sporting activities improved by Pilates is not limited to “civilized games,” like tennis and golf. Football players have embraced Pilates adding many of the practice’s core strengthening exercise to their work out regimes. University level and professional teams have also integrated the discipline into programs. Even mountain bikers can use Pilates to improve their performance. Follow this link to see how using Pilates type breath can make for better mountain biking.
Mountain biking
http://www.articlesbase.com/videos/5min/18918043
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