Running is an easy way to get into great cardiovascular shape and is accessible to most of us.  Buy a good pair of shoes and hit the road.  But the impact can be hard on our bodies especially if we have muscular imbalances.  Those muscular imbalances can lead to injuries in the low back, hips and knees that leave us sidelined.  Pilates is great complement to your running regimen.  But what is Pilates?  Pilates is an exercise program that uses body weight as well as spring resistance to create muscular balance throughout the body.  There is a focus on breath control, core strength and muscular balance.  All of these benefits will help you run further and faster with less fatigue.

      Core Strength-

     Pilates focuses on the deep abdominal muscles which support our lumbar spine.  These are not your six pack muscles, so crunches will not make you run faster.  Think of a canister- it has a front, back, top and a bottom.  Your core or inner unit also has a front, back, top and bottom.  These are the muscles we strengthen in Pilates and they are the ones that will propel you along.

      Breath control-

      In Pilates we learn how to breath posteriorly and laterally so we breathe into the lower lobes of our lungs.  We get a better exchange of gases here which leads to better endurance.   Many of us are shallow breathers just breathing into the top and front of our chest.  This is not very efficient which can lead to tightness in our neck and shoulders.  The muscles we use to run are endurance muscles and their fuel source is glucose and oxygen.  By improving our breath control and expanding our diaphragm, we can run faster and longer with less fatigue.

      Muscular Imbalances- every sport creates repetitive movements that can lead to muscular imbalances.  Running involves many muscles of the lower body which are prone to tightness with every day activity.  Add in a running program 2-5 times a week and low backs, hips and knees can become injured from overuse.  Pilates exercises by their very nature help to lengthen the muscles of the low back, create mobility through the hips and strengthen the muscles around the knees.  Shoulder mobility is also extremely important for a runner to achieve optimal stride.  By improving breathing mechanics and strengthening postural muscles of the upper back we will run with a more upright posture which helps us to breathe easier and more efficiently.

      Pilates can be a very beneficial cross training tool to your running program.  It is low impact, strengthens your core, lengthens and mobilizes areas of the body prone to tightness from running and improves your lung capacity. It also improves your mind body connection which is important to athletes of all  levels.