Pilates for Skiers and Snowboarders

There’s nothing more exhilarating than the thrill of skiing or snowboarding down a snow-covered mountainside with clear blue skies overhead and fresh clean air in your lungs. So how can you prepare yourself for a safe and injury-free holiday in the snow?

By focusing on correct core muscle engagement, Pilates exercises helps a skier to focus on allowing the movement to start from the centre of the body and move outwards. The result is a stronger and more adaptable skier with improved body awareness and proprioception. By practicing Pilates, you will develop a strong core, improve balance and increase agility.  With the additional core strength, you can improve your edging and transfer a powerful line of energy into the skis. A strong core, coupled with improved alignment, will also reduce impact on a skier’s back, hips, and knees. As a result, you will become energy efficient and reduce wear and tear on your joints.

Pilates concentrates on achieving good posture alignment and this will help maintain control whilst skiing.

Pilates is excellent for skiers to regain muscle balance and avoid sport specific injuries. Bringing the body back into balance requires stretching the dominant and strengthening the less dominant muscles. Many Pilates exercises do both simultaneously

By using a range of Pilate mobility and strength exercises you can safely prepare for the ski season. Due to increased core strength and awareness, even if you clip your skis and fall over – your obliques will assist in a graceful recovery to a standing position to start again!

HAPPY SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING!