Golf and Pilates
What is it about Pilates that makes it such a great exercise for so many sportsmen? From Baseball professional to golf legends, they all use Pilates to enhance there bodies and games. Find out about Pilates Golf exercises that will improve your game
Tiger Woods, Annika Sorenstam, and Camilo Villegas all will tell you that Pilates has improved their golf game. Find out why all manner of men and women are doing Pilates to improve their game:
Click Here to Find Out How Pilates Can Improve Your Golf Game
Let’s face it, most golfers don’t train for their sport like runners, or soccer players. In addition, golf stresses one side of the body more than the other, so it’s easy to injure your back or become so uncomfortable that the game isn’t fun anymore. Conditioning with Pilates can prevent this from happening. It’s well known that Pilates improves posture and in the game of golf, maintaining proper posture during your swing and follow through, reduces the strain on your lower back and shoulders.
Statistically, after the age of 30, golfers sustain an injury every three years. After age 50 the number climbs to one per year! Many golfers have learned that conditioning with Pilates improves their game, and significantly reduces their risk of injury. The exercises that Joseph Pilates invented back in the 1920’s are still the best formula for strengthening all the muscles in the body and using your "core" body for movement. The breathing and concentration that one learns with these exercises also helps your golf game.
Golfers who have taken my Get Ready For Pilates program have knocked several stokes off their game, improved flexibility in their shoulders and hips and strengthened lower back and abdominal muscles. I’ll be honest with you, the first few guys who came to my class originally came to keep their wives company, but they came back because they noticed a big difference in their body AND could drive the ball farther. When you learn how to move your body properly and use your core strength to drive the ball, the results speak for themselves.
A quote attributed to Joseph Pilates "In 10 sessions you will feel the difference; in 20 you’ll see the difference, and in 30, you’ll have a whole new body." In relation to golf – after 10 sessions you’ll notice the improvement in your game and after 20 sessions you’ll be hooked on Pilates!
I recommend finding a Pilates instructor certified with one of the recognized certifying institutes (Stott, Physical Mind Institute, or Pilates Method Alliance). Check credentials before trusting your safety to an instructor. There are also "Golf Specific Pilates" instructors who specialize in improving your game. I believe that you will feel the same results in your over-all body conditioning with either option, however, your game will most likely improve quicker with a specialist.
Here’s my quick tip on correcting Posture and Breathing.
Stand normally and look at your posture in a mirror. Now inhale deeply and slowly while concentrating on expanding your ribcage out to the sides. Avoid raising your shoulders up around your ears and especially don’t suck in your abs and force your lower back out. I know this seems counter-intuitive because we all grew up thinking that we were supposed to suck our abs in, but it actually causes strain on your lower back. We’re supposed to have the natural little curve in our lower backs! Exhale slowly and completely, then, try again. Keep practicing until you see your rib cage raising slightly and expanding out to the sides. When you feel comfortable enough, try to keep your spine aligned this way for several minutes as you breathe slowly and deeply 5 counts in and 6 counts out. Notice how much more comfortable this feels than when you were wearing your shoulders as earmuffs or sucking in your abs. Your back is in proper alignment and it’s easier to breathe deeply – Enjoy that fresh oxygen. Practice this every day until you make better posture a habit.
Best of Health to you all and enjoy the game!
More Pilates Golf resources:
Pilates For Golf – Hamptons.com
Hamptons.com. Pilates For Golf Hamptons.com Southampton – There is this lingering idea that golf does not require any physical preparation, perhaps because golf was once … Read more…
Pilates for Golf | Yoga Pilates Videos
Pilates is one of the fastest growing trends in fitness, but is still frequently seen as being a predominantly woman’s exercise. However the stigma is gradually fading for men to practice Pilates, and it is becoming especially popular … Read more…
While it is difficult to correlate between regular Pilates sessions and any improvement in golf scores, it certainl fef y brings benefits in stamina and most especially in post-round recovery. I have personally found a significant reduction … Read more…
Pilates for Golfers manual for Pilates instructors | Pilates Digest
Pilates Digest releases the first in a series of specialized golf fitness programs for Pilates instructors. The Pilates for Golfers manual is a step-by-step guide to identify and correct golf swing faults using the PilatesRead more… Method.
A new form of flexibility training is pilates golf. Pilates golf helps improve your swing range of motion, taking basic pilates techniques and aiming them toward golf specific drills. Pilates Golf can improve your swing accuracy and … Read more…
Author: Kathi Casey
For more information on ending your chronic back pain or beginning a Pilates program: http://www.kathicaseypilates.com/en/products OR to "Ask Kathi" your burning questions on chronic pain, heart health, headaches, laughing meditation etc. go to: http://kathicaseypilates.com/en/contact_kathi/
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