Why Pilates and Running are a Match made in Heaven

At first thought, Pilates and Running seem to be two independent modes, unrelated to each other and done by different types of people. Interestingly, the reality is that they are a perfect complement to each other. I used to fall into the camp of all high intensity exercise, F45 combined with long distance running and some stair sprints thrown in there for good measure. What I quickly came to realise, aside from the fact that training like that can completely overload your stress hormones and actually led me to adrenal fatigue (that’s a post for another time), was that without a complement to the high intensity, the body will protest and often respond with injury.

Mine was in the form of severe knee pain caused by a number of overloaded muscles from my lower back all the way down past my calf. If you had have asked me at the time, it was my bone for sure.. who knew pain caused from overloaded muscles could be so debilitating.

Insert dramatic music and Pilates flying in dressed in lycra and a cape… yes, the plot twist you were waiting for (or maybe not, given the title of this post). Pilates was initially for rehab on my knee and to get me moving again (hello A type personality who can’t sit still). What I very quickly came to realise was that Pilates was not just rehab, it served to strengthen all of the minor muscles that I never knew I had and ultimately create stability in my body. The most game changing moment for me was when I finally learnt to switch my Glutes on for the first time (who knew a clam could hurt so much).

So how does Pilates really help with your running I hear you ask!? Essentially Pilates focuses on more controlled movements that get deep into the smaller muscles that we often neglect. To run efficiently, it is imperative that we can switch our Glutes on and use our posterior chain (a fancy turn for the back of our body) to propel us forward rather than using our quads to pull us forward. Unless we know how to truly switch our butt’s on (yes technical term), it is very difficult to fight that quad dominance a lot of us have. Pilates also focuses on the mind/body connection which is incredibly helpful in getting us out of our heads and into the “flow” of the movement when running.

Needless to say, rehab turned into a love of Pilates and ultimately me studying to be a Pilates practitioner. Not only can Pilates assist with your running, but is sculpts the body in ways that I have found no other exercise can do. Don’t get me wrong, I still run and do weights but Pilates is absolutely the constant in my workout regime.

So, if you are a runner… or not, get out there and give Pilates a go! And if you are in Sydney, come and train with me either one on one or at one of the studios I teach at- Fluidform 2031, Body Mind Life or Vive Active!

xx

Ange