Pilates is one of the best ways to improve your overall mobility. The Pilates system is structured in a way that focuses on a connection to breath, and is rooted in precision, centering, flow, and control of movement. Because Pilates is an active workout that moves between exercises in a fluid way, it increases mobility, which in turn aids in flexibility, the strengthening and lengthening of smaller muscle groups, and an overall improvement in range of motion. 

I offer a number of Pilates mobility videos including those for seniors, those recovering from injury, and for those who simply want a low-impact movement sequence to get their bodies mobile and improve the mind-body connection.

How Pilates Helps With Mobility

Mobility is often confused with flexibility. One needs mobility to attain flexibility and vice versa. The two must co-exist in order to achieve optimal function. The Pilates Method is an ideal series of exercises that balance these two important things.

Mobility is the ability of a joint to move actively through a range of motion. Flexibility is the ability of a muscle, or group of muscles, to lengthen through that range of motion. The muscles around your joints need to be flexible enough for the joint to move through its full range. Having control over your flexibility through mobility is a key factor in preventing stress, strain, and long-term injury.

Mobility Pilates For Seniors

I originally created my Pilates Mobility videos with my parents in mind. I structured these videos in a way that would aid the aging community by supporting healthy mobility, which in turn increases stability, strength, flexibility, and promotes better coordination and balance.

As we age, our joints become less flexible because our bodies create less synovial fluid - the fluid that lubricates the joints -  and the cartilage becomes thinner. The ligaments around the joint also tend to shorten and lose flexibility, which causes the joints to feel stiff.

Regular movement helps to prevent these issues and slow down this process, which can boost joint resilience in order to avoid injury. 

Specifically, Pilates, at its core, targets this mobility and flexibility in active agers with a no stress approach. This includes light-weight cardio, toning, and strengthening of smaller muscle groups.

Ultimately, my strength and mobility-focused Pilates videos are not limited to seniors. They are designed to be comprehensive and fun for anyone!

Why Pilates vs Other Movements for Mobility Improvement

Because postural alignment, and functional, intentional movement is so inherent in Pilates, it creates a great foundation to build upon for long-term increased mobility. 

Unlike other exercise systems such as HITT workouts, Crossfit, and heavy weight training, Pilates offers a conditioning approach. It starts from the connection to proper breathing from the core, and spills out into the rest of the body with a more mindful approach to movement.

Those high-impact systems lend themselves to quick power movement. While that is beneficial for building endurance (and can be fun), it gives little to no time to focus on properly aligning the body.

Pilates works toward the goal of executing full body conditioning from the inside out

in order to have an integrated mind-body connection. It aims for deep muscle recruitment that improves mobility on an achievable and consistent level.