Pilates for riding - thoughts

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Highflinger

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Hi
I am not at all supple ( getting old) and thought I may benefit from Pilates to help me improve my riding. I am not keen on going to a class and would prefer to work from home. Does anyone do Pilates and has it helped your riding?
Thanks
 
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Do it. Do yoga. Go running. It does make a huge difference. I run and do Pilates and yoga and I am much more aware of where my aids are and where my weight is.. my girl is much more responsive. I did it after childbirth and it helps such a lot.
 
I do Pilates (classes and at home). It's incredible for strengthening your core and legs, and definitely helps you stay seated during the sticky moments, rather than being a floppy mess! Don't underestimate its intensity though - my work provides free classes and we're all knackered and sweating after an hour!
 
To add... get a good book first or else when you go to a class you can get a bit bamboozled. Better if you have a basic understanding. I also now prefer spiritual Indian yoga than your average yummy mummy class which it seems all yoga is these days. I’m not yummy, more grubby and wobbly!
 
I have done both, but also prefer yoga. I like the classes where you start and the instructor tells you what do do for the entire hour, including when to breather in and out. I find that I sort of surrender to the class, and get into moving smoothly.

I did go to a FAB class years ago, but moved away (sadly) and just did pilates for years as the yoga classes I tried were rubbish. Just started a new one though, and this instructor is OK too. The hour flies. In pilates the hour creeps (although it is beneficial).
 
Anything which helps balance, poise, agility & co-ordination is a bonus for anyone who rides!

I'm a dance teacher (International Association of Margaret Morris Movement) and have taken sessions for horse riders.

Another useful thing is a bounce ball; have a look at the "Fit to Ride" website and you might find a lot of useful stuff on there too.
 
I found a 15 minute Pilates video I found on you tube that does does your core and tones your bottom, I do this twice a week since the beginning of the year and have found a noticeable difference in my riding, I also swim 3x a week.
 
Pilates is great for your riding. Probably best to go to a class to start with as the instructor can adjust your posture and make sure you are using the right muscles. After that there are loads of free videos. The Balanced Life is one website which has some freebies.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Anything which helps balance, poise, agility & co-ordination is a bonus for anyone who rides!

I'm a dance teacher (International Association of Margaret Morris Movement) and have taken sessions for horse riders.

Another useful thing is a bounce ball; have a look at the "Fit to Ride" website and you might find a lot of useful stuff on there too.
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What is a bounce ball? Google didn't help much. Do you mean an inflatable gym ball? Thanks
 
The best way to get started is to arrange a couple of one to one sessions so you can really work accurately and understand the principles, but Pilates is super for riding. Be aware, though, that Pilates (and yoga!) are exactly like riding in that the quality of instruction varies, so if you don't like It, try a different instructor before you give up!

Does anyone else do Tai Chi? I have tried tiny bits and adore it, and I think it might also be beneficial.
 
I don't know how old you are OP but I am 70 and have been doing pilates for 10 years on and off. Don't do it on your own, you need someone to correct you, it's easy to use your back incorrectly instead of your core in some of the exercises. It's great for riding and can be very hard work but you do need t find a good instructor, i had one who bored me to tears. I do equipilates now and highly recommend it.
 
Pilates is great, so is yoga and my hip and spine flexibility improved hugely when I added in a dance class to my rider fitness programme. The older you get, the more you have to do to be able to ride.
 
I started yoga and Pilates classes about 6mth ago. Loved the Pilates reformer, loathed yoga but did find a benefit. I go to 2/3 classes a week and it's helped hugely with core strength and flexibility.

I have fibromyalgia and it turned out I've been holding myself in alsorts of weird and wonderful ways. I'm slowly working in rebuilding the weakened muscles. Noticed a difference in general pain levels too.
 
I’m 55 and have found Pilates to be extremely beneficial but do have a one to one or do a class first. I tried a dvd at home but then when I went to a class found that I was using the wrong muscles for some of the exercises!
 
I'm an older rider too and have also found Pilates a great benefit for riding since (like my horse!) I'm inclined to be less supple on one side and it has really helped me to even up.
But I very much agree with others who have suggested going to a proper instructor first, to learn how to breathe as you do the exercises and also how to engage your core, because it is quite demanding work and you could pull a muscle or hurt your back if you don't start off correctly. Once you get the correct technique, you can continue at home then.
 
I've been doing Pilates for about a year and it's transformed my seat, and helped my everyday posture tremendously. It's also helped my asthma, in that I now know how to breathe better!! Ditto my chronic lower back pain - hardly a twinge since I started my classes. I'm 59 in a couple of months.
Go to a good motivational class though, don't try it on your own until you know what you are doing.
 
If you find the right class, tends to be very supportive, encouraging and friendly, and mainly ladies over 40!

It is pretty normal to be new and rubbish at the beginning and classes have all shapes, ages, sized and fitness levels.

I'd sign up for a beginners class somewhere, making sure class size is under 10 to get some attention, and learn correct basics.

If you enjoy beginners I'd say a few private lessons might help, but I think private sessions at the beginning be a bit intense.
 
I did Pilates on the recommendation of my phsyio and feel much stronger. I'm naturally quite lazy so have to go to classes to push myself to do it and so only do around 1 hour a week, but after a year I can most definitely see a difference.
 
The first time I ever went to a pilates class, the instructor could not believe how much I could bend in certain directions (from riding), but I was as tight as anything in others. I did it for 5 years and it definitely complimented riding, however I stopped classes when I moved here. I still do (intermittently) some of the exercises.
 
Lindylouanne said:
Not sure how old you are when you say 'getting old' but there is a Pilates book for the over 50's which I used before I found a class through my riding club. It has helped me immensely so I would say go for it.
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Lindylouanne, I’m so sorry I found old messages recently and it seems you messaged me details of classes and I don’t think I replied :( so sorry it was really kind of you!
Op, I’m very similar! I’ve just found some classes locally and intend starting.
I also have the book Pilates for riders which may be worth a look?
 
Red-1 said:
I have done both, but also prefer yoga. I like the classes where you start and the instructor tells you what do do for the entire hour, including when to breather in and out. I find that I sort of surrender to the class, and get into moving smoothly.

I did go to a FAB class years ago, but moved away (sadly) and just did pilates for years as the yoga classes I tried were rubbish. Just started a new one though, and this instructor is OK too. The hour flies. In pilates the hour creeps (although it is beneficial).
Click to expand...

I exactly agree. Can't stand pilates but struggle to find a decent yoga instructor since a move (and to be honest don't have time to go to classes).

OP you might be interested in LesMills OnDemand. It is about £8 a month I think (bargain!) to access 100's of videos you can use to workout at home. They have a program called BodyBalance which is a mix of a little thai chi, pilates and yoga. Videos range from 20-50 min. They also have a program called cXworx which is just 30 min of core and glute work. Oh and Barre is ballet based and great for coordination, balance and core strength. If you do a google search you should be able to find a 10day free trial.
 
daydreamer said:
I exactly agree. Can't stand pilates but struggle to find a decent yoga instructor since a move (and to be honest don't have time to go to classes).

OP you might be interested in LesMills OnDemand. It is about £8 a month I think (bargain!) to access 100's of videos you can use to workout at home. They have a program called BodyBalance which is a mix of a little thai chi, pilates and yoga. Videos range from 20-50 min. They also have a program called cXworx which is just 30 min of core and glute work. Oh and Barre is ballet based and great for coordination, balance and core strength. If you do a google search you should be able to find a 10day free trial.
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I LOVE BodyBalance, and I had no idea I could do the classes on demand! Thanks - that will be a huge help when I can't get to gym classes.

The Les Mills classes are structured really well to help you get started, I think.
 
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