Joseph Pilates (the bloke who came up with the idea of Pilates) once said “If at the age of 30 you are stiff and out of shape, you are old. If at the age of 60 you are supple and strong then you are young.”

So many youngsters have terrible posture, don’t watch what they’re eating, don’t think about what’s going on inside the body. But they probably think they don’t have to as they have youth on their side. But it does catch up with you! I’m mid 30’s and I know I am no way the same shape, size, or attitude to it all as I was when I was 20.

But one thing I have never been worried about is getting older. And do you know why? Because I have too many friends, family members and wonderful clients who are 50+ and are celebrating it! They have spirit, zest for life, energy, passion and a fountain of knowledge and experience to back it all up.
I look at these ladies and think, you’re having a ball!  You do Pilates, you like fine wine, you wear tailored clothing. You know what you like, whom you like and the places you like to do it in.

Luckily for us, The Pilates Pod in Hitchin is a great favourite for a lot of these ladies. Over 50’s who are dedicating themselves time out every week to look after themselves, meet up with their Pilates friends and do it in a small professional but fun studio where the Pilates is serious but the attitude is fun!

We have to face facts. The body deteriorates with age. Until we find the fountain of youth, a few things you can expect are a lowered heart rate, loss of muscle strength and tone, loss of balance, loss of elasticity and reduced bone density.

But are we going to let it take over us and grow old gracefully or are we fight mother nature and grow old disgracefully!

Arthritis?  Exercise is one key to improvement and relief of painful joints. Just do your routine slowly and work through different progressions of various exercises. Core and balance exercises in particular are useful.

Osteoporosis? Add low impact gentle resistance, balance and core training into your exercise schedule. Bone density takes time to build up so you need to dedicate little and often time over a long period of time to improve bone density scans.

Losing the grey matter? Exercise the body and you’ll exercise your mind too by increasing oxygen levels and boosting helpful brain chemicals.

Aching back and joints? Add some careful flexibility exercises and core stability work for a stronger more flexible you!

Incase you don’t know, Pilates is a low impact muscle strengthening exercise perfect for lengthening the spine, strengthening the supporting muscles on the inside as well as toning the ones you show off on the outside. Combined with helping with relaxation, breathing and balance.  But at The Pilates Pod, we also offer Reformer Pilates and it’s so popular with the over 50’s who want that personalised approach using 1:1 training.
It’s a brilliant extra dimension to Pilates, sort of like zooping up your mat work exercises. Particularly great for offering extra support options, adding more adjustable resistance, building bone density and getting toned in those hard to reach areas!

But please take heed of a little Pilates Pod advice; some Pilates exercises are not suitable for certain medical conditions and age related issues, so do check that your Pilates expert knows what these are before you start!

Or come and speak to us, we’re waiting to say hello!

Michelle Smith
Director, The Pilates Pod
107 Bancroft, Hitchin, Herts. SDG5 1NB
The Pilates Pod