Pilates-based Rehabilitation
The Pilates Method is not just for injured bodies, but it's pillars of whole-body integration, flexibility, and strengthening from the inside out, make it ideal to help your body recover from injury and regain its full, healthy and pain-free function. Some physical therapy practices focus on the area that is hurt and treat the symptoms. This practice looks at the whole body and WHY we hurt and treats the SOURCE of the symptoms. Often, clients discover that recovery and rehabilitation of an injury can lead to a stronger, safer and far more comfortable whole-body way of moving, working and performing!
Advantages of Pilates-based Rehab
Many rehabilitation professionals treat symptoms, and sometimes that works just fine. Often times though, the pain you are feeling is the symptom of something else, perhaps an injury in another area that never completely got better. Kathleen has the ability to look at the body as a whole, which means she can look beyond a current injury and often trace back weaknesses in the body that may have led to the injury. This insight helps to prevent the injury from recurring, and is a huge benefit of incorporating Pilates into your rehabilitation.
Kathleen has many years experience as a Physical Therapist and Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher (NCPT). What sets her apart as a PT is her dedication providing the best care and attention to her patients. To do this, Kathleen is committed to listening to her clients and staying absolutely committed to their goals and recovery, as well as keeping up with scientific, clinical and experiential knowledge in the ever changing world of the physical body. She assesses each patient individually and provides unique advice to each person, taking their daily physical activities into account and working out specific routines which help balance the body and reduce the impact of the injury.
Her curiosity to learn more about the Pilates Method took her to study and graduate from Pilates at The Pilates Center in Boulder, CO and also Polestar Pilates, two of the most comprehensive and well-respected Pilates training programs in the world. Adding this whole body exercise and movement method to her expertise and knowledge base allows Kathleen to offer her clients a service above and beyond PT, helping to keep their bodies injury free and fluid.
Benefits Of Pilates
Develop a strong core
Pilates exercises develop a strong powerhouse or core (the deep abdominal muscles and muscles that support the spine and pelvic floor). Strength and support of the core and ALL of our muscles, along with length and dynamic flexibility leads to "uniform development" and whole body health.
Gain long, lean muscles and flexibility
More conventional or traditional workouts tend to build short, bulky muscles – the type most prone to injury. Pilates emphasizes dynamic flexibility with strength, improving muscle elasticity and joint mobility. A body with balanced strength and flexibility is less likely to be injured, performs better, and feels healthier!
"A few well-designed movements, properly performed in a balanced sequence, are worth hours of doing sloppy calisthenics or forced contortion." – Joseph Pilates*
Improve posture and balance
Pilates trains you to use your core muscles rather than holding your position with superficial musculature. Using the deep core muscles of the powerhouse – the abdominals, back, and pelvic floor – to support our posture allows the shoulders to relax, the neck and head to move freely, and relieves stress on the hips, legs, and feet.
"You first purposefully acquire complete control of your own body and then through proper repetition of its exercises you gradually and progressively acquire that natural rhythm and coordination associated with all your subconscious activities." – Joseph Pilates *
Build body awareness
Pilates can help you gain awareness of your posture and support from your core as you go about your daily activites. When you are more aware of your body, you can control and enjoy it! Over time, you can gain the ability to correct yourself and improve your form as you go along. Awareness and knowledge of your body a fluid process that takes practice, but works. This goes a long way to prevent future injuries.
Develop your mind-body connection
By emphasizing fuller breathing, correct spinal and pelvic alignment, and concentration on smooth, flowing movement, you become acutely in tune with your body. You actually learn how to control its movement. In Pilates, the quality of movement is valued over quantity of repetitions. Proper breathing is essential, and helps you execute movements with maximum power and efficiency. Last but not least, learning to breathe properly can reduce stress and pain.
“Pilates develops the body uniformly, corrects wrong postures, restores physical vitality, invigorates the mind, and elevates the spirit." – Joseph Pilates *
*All quotes are from Joseph Pilates’ Book “Return To Life”.