Newer Female Wrestlers, Try Pilates For Stability, Control, Strategic Positioning

February 20, 2022,

Trying and participating in one form of a fitness discipline doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try others.

We’re still in February, very early in the year and as a newer Female Grappler, there are myriads of ways you can improve your physical fitness, which in turn will improve your wrestling performance, so if you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to get into better shape, you should absolutely consider Pilates as a present and future fitness pathway.

Even if only as a supplement.

The reasons for doing so are numerous but mostly because Pilates will focus on your core muscles and will help with your balance and flexibility, both very important components of your wrestling.

A closer look is warranted.

Pilates is a type of mind-body exercise developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates, after whom it was named. Pilates called his method “Contrology“.

From the originator’s point of view, Joseph Pilates presents his method as the art of controlled movements, which should look and feel like a workout (not a therapy) when properly manifested. If practiced with consistency, Pilates improves flexibility, builds strength and develops control and endurance in the entire body.

It is practiced worldwide, especially in Western countries such as Australia, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. As of 2005, there were 11 million people practicing the discipline regularly and 14,000 instructors in the United States.

Mr. Pilates published two books related to his training method: Your Health: A Corrective System of Exercising That Revolutionizes the Entire Field of Physical Education in 1934, and Return to Life Through Contrology in 1945.

Try Pilates and you will have plenty of company.

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It is a system of exercises designed to improve physical strength, flexibility, posture, and enhance mental awareness.

How does Pilates compare to Yoga?

Modern yoga, like Pilates, is a mind-and-body discipline, though yoga classes are more likely to address spiritual aspects explicitly.

Some poses are similar in the two disciplines; for example, open leg balance closely resembles Navasana, boat pose; roll over is similar to Halasana, plough pose; and swan and push-up are essentially identical to Bhujangasana, cobra pose and Chaturanga Dandasana, low plank pose, respectively. Both disciplines develop strength, flexibility, and fitness. Pilates, however, emphasizes core strength where yoga emphasizes flexibility.

Core strength.

There are at times confusion on what that term means but if you want to improve this very important region of your fitness regiment, it would be good to understand what it means.

The team at core-condition.com explain, “Many people think of the abdominal region of the body or the well known “6-pack” when they hear the word core; however, this is a common misconception because overall core strength actually involves many different muscles working together to stabilize the spine and pelvis. This includes the muscles of the pelvic floor, the transverse abdominis (TVA), obliques, latissimus dorsi, erector spinae, and the hip flexors, to name a few. The combination of all of these muscles working in good order creates a strong and a stable base to control movements, transfer energy, and prevent injury.”

Good female wrestling is about having a stable base to control movements.

Let’s get another view.

The group at ojaihealth.com/core-strength add, “Though subtle in their action, core muscle groups work together, refining their role from moment to moment as motion changes. Learning to control these core muscular groups during activity is believed to protect against injury, particularly of the spine. These muscles are also an essential part of maintaining good balance, which helps protect against falls.”

Fall on the wrestling mats and you are about to be submitted.

So, if you are going to pursue Pilates to develop and strengthen those core muscles, you might as well learn from one of the best. Literally. Virtually.

It seems there are a million Pilates Instructors out there in online Fitness Land but one of the ones that stood out to us is Robin Long, in part because she demonstrates her workouts on the beach.

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So cool.

So soothing.

The team at elle.com.au magazine educates, “If soothing, by-the-beach sessions are your thing, you’ll love Robin Long of The Balanced Life Pilates. Especially great for total beginners who may be new to classical Pilates moves, like The Hundred and Leg Circles, Long has a series of videos specifically designed to guide you through them.

In addition to standalone full-body sessions, she also offers 28-day challenges that only require five to 10 minutes per day, and a special playlist dedicated to Pilates for new mothers.”

Sounds great.

We’d like to visit Robin’s website to understand our Pilates and life philosophy.

At her website thebalancedlifeonline.com she expresses, “I’m also passionate about helping women transform their relationship with exercise and healthy living by choosing “grace over guilt” and finding a balance that feels like FREEDOM.”

Okay, still trying to let that one soak in a little.

Time for some clarity.

Robin adds, “Believing the lie that beating yourself up or using guilt as a way to motivate yourself to eat right and exercise will NEVER work. It’s time to break free of that cycle and find an enjoyable way to take care of your body and mind once and for all.”

That makes more sense. We get it. Completely.

She summarizes, “While we love a good “before and after” picture, we know that what matters most cannot be captured in a photo. We know that our relationship with our body is more important than the size of our jeans. We believe that making peace with our bodies and transforming our inner dialogue is essential to true transformation and long-term success.”

Alright Robin. Time to watch one of your YouTube videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-yBJ2-pCho

Another beneficial aspect to following Robin, and if you love what you see, you can actually join their team.

Here is her thinking regarding being a Team Member, “The Balanced Life is a top performing Pilates lifestyle website dedicated to helping busy women improve their health and feel their best by providing realistic and effective workouts and self-care resources. We serve thousands of women all over the world and help them break free from a negative relationship with diet and exercise by providing a balanced, practical approach to health and wellness.

Our online Pilates membership and community, The Balanced Life Sisterhood, along with the free Pilates challenges and other resources we create throughout the year, serve to educate, empower, and encourage women on their journey toward becoming the healthiest version of themselves.”

Well, there you have it.

As a female grappler hoping to enhance your fitness program with a view to strengthening your core muscle group, Pilates could be for you.