Balance & Pilates

By Francine Rodrigues

Having good balance is important to keep yourself upright and move with dexterity, avoiding falls and possible fractures – a skill that becomes extremely important, especially as we age.

But what exactly is balance?

Let me take you back to physics class at school. According to Newton's first law, equilibrium happens when the forces acting on a body cancel each other out, keeping the body stable, without oscillations or deviations. There is static equilibrium, which is when the body remains in equilibrium at rest, and dynamic equilibrium when the body is in motion.

When we talk about the human body, balance is a physical quality obtained by a combination of muscular actions that act against the law of gravity or external forces. More specifically, it is the ability to keep the body's center of mass in support.

On the other hand, unbalance is the exact opposite, it is the lack of proportion and harmony of forces. Aging leads to loss of muscle mass and, consequently, to a gradual reduction in strength, balance, and coordination.

So how does one train and improve balance?

Although balance is associated with a command from the central nervous system to the muscles and joints, physical exercise helps improve this skill. However, it is not enough to have strong muscles, they need to work in harmony, especially the muscles in the center of the body - the trunk - to maintain balance. In addition, training flexibility is also important to have more coordination and relaxation, ensuring the stability needed for balance both at rest and in motion.

And that's where Pilates comes in!

The Pilates method is one of the few physical exercises that work the body as a whole, globally. In Pilates, we start the activity from the center to the extremities, ensuring a stable center to perform the exercises with quality and stability. Furthermore, Pilates is movement and it challenges you to maintain that stability as you move, just as you do in your everyday life outside of the studio.

During classes, you practice this stability in different positions: lying down, sitting, standing, and even upside down! Pilates exercises challenge you to keep your core muscles activated during push-ups, side bends, extensions, rotations or simply keep your spine growing, ensuring a strong enough center of mass to maintain your balance any time of day. Not to mention the stretches that make your body more flexible and limber. 

Practicing Pilates prepares you for the future as you enjoy its immediate benefits, such as having more energy and less tension in a stronger, more flexible body. 

So, to keep the body and mind in balance: Keep moving! 

And watch our video of the 5 most effective balance exercises on our YouTube channel.