Pilates

[Matchstix]

Anyone doing pilates?

What's the effect on your cycling?

Cost per lesson?

[Avo]

I go to an hour Pilates class once a week. A brilliant work out.

Has improved my cycling so much!! My core/abs and lower back have become so much stronger. I am stronger on the rides because of Pilates.

I am not sure what the cost per lesson would be as I go the Pilates class at the Virgin Active Gym as part of my membership.

[Fisan]

Can be anywhere between R100-R200 per lesson, maybe more in CBD's. Many gyms offer free pilates classes BUT they can quickly become crowded. With pilates, especially as a beginner it is absolutely important that the instructor can pay attention to you. If you want to get the full benefit you need to know how to do it right...

 

But yeah, I feel it is worth it. Did wonders for my glutes and back.

[DirtyDan]

You miss spelled pirates...

[Gen]

Anyone doing pilates?

What's the effect on your cycling?

Cost per lesson?

Another alternative is Yoga.

[dave303e]

Yoga is also worth it, especially for your balance and flexibility and you don't have to pay extra to do it at most gyms. I would supplement Pilates and Yoga with some regular gym core work as well, nothing wrong with doing a few core exercises after spinning...

[Gen]

Yoga is also worth it, especially for your balance and flexibility and you don't have to pay extra to do it at most gyms. I would supplement Pilates and Yoga with some regular gym core work as well, nothing wrong with doing a few core exercises after spinning...

Besides balance and flexibility, I found that when I did yoga it really taught me to control my breathing which helps a lot on the bike too.

[Fat Boab]

I'm a big fan of pilates. It targets the true core, not just abs. ie all connective muscles which control the bits of your body which hang off your torso, so think hip flexors, glutes, pelvis control, shoulders, arms etc. More importantly than merely 'working' all those muscle groups, however, is it trains you and your body to 'activate' them. Sounds obvious, but a lot of the musculature imbalances we have in our body are due to the inability to activate certain muscle groups. Focusing on that often miraculously results in 'instant' strength, without bulk - ideal for cycling. Regular pilates gives you long, slender muscles, rather than bulked up ones. 

 

I'd also fully support Koei's comment. Take a few private lessons before joining a group class. You need to develop some basic control and 'feel' before being let loose, otherwise you'll risk straining your bits and pieces.....

 

Feel the grace.....

 

[dirtypot]

I want to do pilates.  I've only heard good things.

[Long Wheel Base]

I used to go. It was lekker checking out all the hot chicks. But I used to do majority of the exercises in my weight training sessions anyway so once I had seen enough of the same chicks in their yoga pants I stopped.

It was interesting to see how weak some people are though. As a cyclist I have always focused on core and I found a lot of the core exercises really easy and a lot of people couldn't do them at all(generally though those weren't the chicks I was checking out).

[Fat Boab]

I used to go. It was lekker checking out all the hot chicks. But I used to do majority of the exercises in my weight training sessions anyway so once I had seen enough of the same chicks in their yoga pants I stopped.

It was interesting to see how weak some people are though. As a cyclist I have always focused on core and I found a lot of the core exercises really easy and a lot of people couldn't do them at all(generally though those weren't the chicks I was checking out).

 

See...activation!!

 

Once the basics of pilates are 'learned', a creative mind can apply those to weight-training etc. eg I modified all weight-training exercises to involve fluid 'support' from swiss balls, foam rollers, balance balloons etc, which keeps the mass lifted down, whilst allowing you to exercise to 'exhaustion'....useful if you have some compromised senior physiology, as I do!

[dave303e]

Paddling is also great for core strength...

[Endurrrbro]

​Good day,

 

​I offer Pilates in Stellenbosch.  Have a look on our website, www.pilatesatmyplace.co.za.

 

​Send me an email to elsabe@pilatesatmyplace.co.za if you are interested.

 

Elsabe