Fremantle skipper, Nat Fyfe, is an undeniable AFL champion. At the end of the 2019 season, he became just the 15th player in VFL and AFL history to be awarded multiple Brownlow Medals. What does he credit his success to? Pilates.
After setbacks from an ongoing elbow injury, Nat practiced Pilates with an instructor named Trudy one-on-one for 11 months. His results speak for themselves. No more soft-tissue injuries and a second Brownlow win up his sleeve.
Luckily, you don’t have to be an AFL superstar to benefit from Pilates. If you’ve been thinking about trying a session, give it go. Whether you’re a professional sports person wanting to prevent injury or a hobby golf or tennis player looking for a workout that can improve your game, Pilates could be for you.
Building foundations of strength, flexibility, coordination, posture and mindfulness, consistent Pilates is the secret ingredient for many athletes. Here’s why:
It strengthens your core
Pilates conditions all the right parts of your body for a great game, but it especially focuses on developing a strong core. Strengthening your core is essential to most sports – whether that’s kicking a footy, swinging a driver or popping up on a surfboard. Without solid core muscles, you won’t be able to perfect your technique.
It prevents injury
If you’ve ever played sport, you’ll know one injury can jeopardise your whole career, and even your health outside the game. Pilates focuses on creating long, lean muscles and improving flexibility – which, in turn, will give you a wider range of motion and reduce your risk of straining a muscle. If you already have a chronic injury, Pilates can aid in rehabilitation.
It improves balance
Have you ever consciously thought about your balance? Probably not. But balance is crucial for improving your game, by giving you greater consistency and control over your body’s movements. Pilates is great for balance because it builds lower body strength. It also connects your mind to your muscles – the more you practice, the more you’ll be aware of your body’s capabilities.
Pilates is one of the best ways you can invest in your health and improve your game, whatever that may be. Keep in mind, you’ll see the most progress when you practice in private or semiprivate classes with a professional instructor. That means avoiding large group-style classes where it’s hard to get the attention you need to reach your specific goals.
Ready to get started? Get in touch with us today to find out about our range of Pilates classes for any fitness level.