Barbara Wintroub
Recently, I watched the Easter Bowl tennis tournament for junior players.
In the finals of the 18 and under were two tall, slim, young, women both with shoulder problems.
Of course, I did a body analysis on both only to find:
- overly tight pec minors from too much chest work
- anterior pelvic tilt from too many squats
- overly tight psoas
Personal trainers are killing their clients by doing the strengthening exercises d’jour (of the day) but not stretching them afterward.
Pilates is so good at balancing both strength and stretch exercises
The tennis serve looked painful at best for each of them. Their humoral heads were so anterior to their ear, it looked like they had no trapezius strength to stabilize their shoulders.
You see this issue with older people who are bent forward with no mid back strength.
It’s up to us as Pilates teachers to put together a routine of exercises that strengthen and stretch the body, align body parts, work both front and back and sides of our clients.
Because we live in a forward, linear world (eating, driving, computer) it’s up to us to counter balance our clients alignment issues.
Tip of the Day: How long can you sit up tall on a backless chair or bench with your shoulders pulled back? Most furniture is terrible for your back and neck. Practice sitting with a bag of rice or a washcloth on your head. Sit and Stand tall. Good Posture Becomes You.