Ah, winter is approaching. For some, this is not the most welcoming news. For others though, it’s cause for celebration.
If you’re gearing up for the excitement of hitting the snow/ice for winter sports activities, then you know exactly what we’re talking about.
What you may not know, however, is the incredibly positive impact of Pilates on winter sports. And this applies to snowboarding, skating, skiing, and whatever icy activity thrills you.
What Is the Impact of Pilates on Winter Sports?
In a nutshell, Pilates is a comprehensive system of movements that emphasizes strength (especially in the powerhouse, or core), body awareness, and flexibility. So how can it take your winter sports endeavors to new heights?
Well, it helps you do the following:
1. Set Your Foundation
Balance, stability, and control are essential when it comes to winter sports. After all, these are sports that include a lot of slipping and sliding. This means you need to have a strong core. Pilates is designed to strengthen the core muscles (which include the abdominal, lower back, and hip muscles) to give you a solid foundation and improve your performance.
Strong abdominal muscles provide stability and support to the spine. Engaging them, along with the diaphragm and the muscles in the pelvic floor, helps you achieve control on ice and snow.
In addition, strengthening the targeted back muscles in Pilates will help you maintain an upright posture and stave off lower back pain. And having an awareness of them will enable you to navigate challenging terrain – whether you’re taking the black diamond trail or walking your dog on a snowy morning.
Finally, the glutes and hip flexors are key for both generating power while maintaining balance.
2. Build Stamina and Endurance
Winter sports demand a certain level of muscle endurance that’s not required to the same degree in some other activities. You must be able to sustain physical efforts over long periods in the cold.
All Pilates classes focus on strengthening the core which will, in turn, enhance your overall power and ability to reduce the onset of fatigue. While not every kind of Pilates focuses on cardio conditioning, there is a dynamic branch that is intensely performed to promote cardiovascular conditioning. With improved levels of cardiovascular fitness, you will boost your stamina.
3. Increase Your Body Alignment and Awareness
If you’ve never heard of proprioception, then you’ve probably never taken a Pilates class.
Proprioception is a fancy way of saying ‘knowing where your body is in space’ It’s a major point of focus in Pilates which emphasizes body awareness, controlled breathing, mindful movement, and proper alignment. Yet all of these will also enhance your performance while minimizing injuries.
Going into your winter sports activities with an understanding of your body’s positioning and movement patterns will improve your technique so you can move more efficiently and effectively. This awareness will further encourage you to engage the needed muscles through each movement while keeping proper posture. Regardless of your winter sport of choice.
4. Unlock Your Full Range of Motion
Pause to consider the wide range of motion required in winter sports. For example, snowboarders and skaters do a lot of twisting and turning while cross-country skate skiers require side-to-side motion.
Whatever movements your winter sport requires, you’ll want to ensure that you have access to your full range of motion when executing them. This can be a lot more challenging in the cold when joints and muscles are tighter. And a decreased range of motion means an increased risk of strains, sprains, or other injuries.
Fortunately, the movements in Pilates target a wide range of muscle groups to focus on improving flexibility and increasing joint mobility. This is done by recruiting the muscles through controlled movements that elongate the muscles rather than shorten them.
Having optimal flexibility in your hips, knees, ankles, and spine will help you achieve proper form while executing tricky movements on the slopes, trails, or ice. And you’ll do it with ease and precision.
Boost Your Winter Sports Performance This Year!
Still not convinced of the positive impact of Pilates on winter sports? Take it from three-time Olympian free skier Maggie Voisin who says this about the practice:
“I do a lot of strengthening and power work in the gym, which is essential, but Pilates adds an extra element to my strength. In Pilates, you focus on small important muscles that you can’t always work in the gym. Pilates emphasizes core strength plus stability, it improves my balance, while also working flexibility. It adds an element of mindfulness to my training and that’s super key too. I feel my best when Pilates is a part of my training routine.”
Want to get started? Contact us today. And get ready to kill it this winter.