How effective are Pilates abdominal exercises and training?
Whether the goal is preventive, injury recovery, rehabilitation, or performance enhancement good ‘‘core’’ fitness is a must, and the way your abdominal muscles are recruited is crucial. This is how the correct Pilates abdominal exercises can help improve your core fitness.

Gluteus medius exercises strength training on the Pilates reformer
Gluteus medius exercises for strength training and conditioning progression standing on a Pilates reformer. This contemporary exercise targets the gluteus medius and maximus bilaterally among many others, and challenges various muscle groups that support the hip, knee and ankle during athletic activities.
It is not intended as an early rehabilitation exercise, but as an advanced progression or conditioning exercise.

Why incorporate this type of exercise to your training regime?
This type of exercise requires muscle control of various muscle groups, including those of the deep abdominal wall.
Muscle strength deficits and activation timing patters in the lumbopelvic region is associated with low back pain. The gluteus medius muscle is often seen as the most important stabiliser of the pelvis, preventing excessive hip adduction during gait. Researchers have shown that these adduction forces can exceed magnitudes of three times body weight during mid stance.
The gluteus maximus plays an important role in human bipedal walking and load transfer through the hip joint; thus, weak gluteus muscles may result in loss of functional abilities. Muscle weakness, poor neuromuscular control, and unbalanced muscle activity in the lumbopelvic region are major factors related to lumbopelvic instability.

Pilates Reformer classes W14, London

At 375 Kensington High Street, Core Kensington offers small Pilates Reformer classes in a beautifully appointed studio. In other words, Intelligent Pilates, skilfully delivered.
Improve your general wellbeing and help reduce your low back pain. Therefore, if you suffer from non-specific, mechanical chronic low back pain and are looking for a change, look no further. Here’s why:
The benefits of equipment-based Pilates exercises (e.g. reformer), have been clearly established… (more…)

Why Pilates while you’re pregnant?

Pregnancy is often associated with a number of musculo-skeletal problems. It is very important to get the right information to all mothers-to-be as and advice on exercise safety during pregnancy. Particularly when it comes to pelvic floor exercises.

There is not much that can be done to modify the inevitable physiological and hormonal changes of pregnancy. However, by strengthening the core stabilising muscles around the pelvis and spine and maintaining mobility in the mid back, hips and ankles, we can prepare the mother for after delivery.

Improving breathing is important in order to optimise the body for the challenges it may face. The growth of the baby in the placenta pressing on the diaphragm may restrict optimal oxygenation to the lungs. So in order to prevent shallow breathing, learning good early breathing techniques can help the mother during pregnancy and delivery.

What is Pilates for Pregnancy

Pilates is based on the principle that a central core is developed and then movements are introduced to challenge this core stability. This philosophy is clearly applicable in pregnancy, a challenge both mentally and physically on the mother’s body.

By improving the mother’s core stability before and during pregnancy, it should be possible to limit any potential harm to the joints and stimulate the body safely. Returning to exercise soon after the birth is easier if the mother has undergone core training and is important for the mother’s physical and mental well being.

A mother looks after her baby’s body for nine months, but who cares for hers ?

Join our prenatal classes today.

At CORE KENSINGTON you can stay fit, strong and prepare yourself for delivery. A strong back and core goes a long way.

Book yourself for a one-on-one consultation.