“We retire too early and we die too young. Our prime of life should be in the 70’s and old age should not come until we are almost 100.”

Joseph Pilates

In today’s society more people work at high stress desk jobs for long hours and constantly look down at their phones. This can wreak havoc on their posture. Without working on correcting posture, learning how to breathe properly, and engaging core muscles, our bodies are likely to become stiff and more prone to injury.

Joseph Pilates, the founder of Pilates, believed in the art of aging gracefully. He would say we’re only as old as our spine. “If your spine is stiff at 30, you are old. If it is flexible at 60, you are young.”

Pilates has helped many people stay young, reduce or even eliminate back and joint pain, all while being encouraged and supported during their journey.

PRO Club Member, Julie, has been taking Private Pilates sessions weekly for the past four years. When she began Pilates, she had been suffering with a chronic leg ache for several years.

“I couldn’t figure out what it was,” says Julie. “After just two weeks of Pilates, my pain was gone! I also love how Pilates requires me to be present and has taught me how to breathe more effectively. It balances my day. Pilates has been a fabulous complement to my personal training sessions. Pilates works on all my small muscles and personal training works on the bigger ones. Together, I am stronger. 

“I used to throw out my back just vacuuming or moving furniture. I couldn’t work in my flowerbeds for more than an hour. Sometimes, even reaching for something on the floor could throw my body out of balance. Now, I can enjoy gardening. I can do my personal chores. Just the other day while I was walking, I tripped on the sidewalk which was raised due to tree roots. Before Pilates, I would have pulled a muscle, which would have made working and sitting impossible. But that day, thanks to Pilates, I regained my balance, did not trip or sustain any injuries.  

“As I continue to age, I’ve become more mindful of breathing, standing taller, and engaging in activities that combine strength and flexibility so that I’ll be living in my prime at 70 and beyond!”  

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By Christina Mawer, PRO Pilates Instructor

Christina was introduced to Pilates when she battled back pain many years ago. She fell in love with how it helped her recover and how great it made her body feel. She’s passionate about helping others achieve their goals and bounce back from injuries.

New to Pilates?

Schedule a Pilates Perfect Start session and work with a certified PRO Pilates instructor one-on-one to become familiar with fundamental exercises and proper technique.

Curious about learning more? Here about Mark’s story and how he improved his back pain here.