Pilates. Be honest has it helped?

[Toks]

Yes a genuine question, I'm not just stirring things up. I'm doing a bit of running until I eventually get my new race bike. I've been prone to the odd bout of lower back pain pre cycling day (not anymore) so I'm wondering whether I should supplement the running with pilates before the lower back pain returns which I think it may eventually. Cheers

[Robh]

See a physio first to ensure you don't have any biomechanical issues.

[mlocke]

Definately helped me out.

I only stopped because of other commitments piling up (wedding & triathlon amongst others) and hope to go back in the winter

[Andrew G]

If you don't have any problems now then it shouldn't do you any harm. It's gentle and gradual and you only go as far as you can with any exercises. Adam is a very good teacher if you can make the ACC pilates lessons, if not you could email/pm him for advice on a good instructor in your area (if he can't do it).

When I did it I could tell it was helping. It helped with flexibility and core strength. I stopped going largely due to time constraints and try and do some of the exercises at home from time to time. If I'm honest then I haven't done a lot since I stopped going to the lessons as I haven't been disciplined enough, but will try to be as it's easy to fit in the exercises in small time slots during the evening at home and like I say I could tell that it was helping my overall flexibility (which is poor) and core strength.

[huw williams]

Definitely yes - I did the first two seasons of ACC pilates and have since continued at least 4 times a week in my own time at the gym. Much improved flexibility, no lower back pain on long hilly rides (including the Nove Colli which amazed me).

If you're about to increase the amount of running you do and have a history of minor injury then improved flexibility and core strength is going to help you a lot - I found doing the Pilates classes was a great way to get me motivated to actually do more work on flexibility/core strebgth.

[Snoop Doug]

Toks....it Roks

Do it, especially if you can find a teacher as good as Adam. One of the many things I like about his style is he will adapt moves to suit class members various twinges etc. It's helped me with balance and stuff enormously, I've missed our classes through the summer and I look forward to restarting again - soon!

Snoop

[Will]

Works for me

Used to get occasional back ache but don't really get any now, and like Huw my flexibility has improved

Also my improved sense of body awareness means I am better able to let the bike move freely around me (rather than every bump, twist and turn feeding directly through to me and so tiring me out more quickly)

Maybe you should try a 1 to 1 session with Adam to see what you think?