KT (Kayte) Walsh
CREATIVE  PRODUCER | WRITER | MEDIA SPECIALIST 

All hail Pilates! An ill word is seldom heard about this fitness regimen, but it’s not just the exercises that have sung praises. Athletes, young moms, senior citizens, and workout warriors alike are impressed with the benefits of Pilates. No matter your level of fitness, practicing Pilates increases body awareness, flexibility, range of motion and creates long lean muscles in conjunction with improving posture and core strength. This in turn relieves joint pain and stress in the neck and back. Strengthening the deep postural muscles is not only essential for a healthy body, but can also help prevent injury as well as bouncing back from one.  

 

A strong foundation in Pilates can mean better quality of movement in all areas of life. The basis of Pilates focuses on stabilizing the muscles supporting the spine and pelvis for optimal alignment. Creating a mind to body connection with core stabilizing muscles can transcend to other activities outside of the practice for prime execution of the even the simplest task. Take brushing your teeth or sitting at the computer to a whole new level.

 

Pilates is truly functional fitness and should be at the foundation of any workout routine. Cross-training provides great benefits from enhanced weight-loss and over total fitness to increasing exercise adherence for those just starting out or coming back from a hiatus. Incorporating Pilates in any cross-training program has astounding results. Hermosa’s own Olympic gold medalist, beach volleyball player, *Kerri Walsh-Jennings has been quoted saying, “Even when I'm not doing Pilates, when I'm doing weightlifting, cardio or circuits, I'm still implementing the Pilates lessons that I've learned and doing things the right way now.”

 

Varying workouts from day to day fights boredom and can reduce plateaus in strength building and weight loss. Variety in addition to increasing intensity keeps the body challenged. Cross-training not only changes physique while keeping the workout fresh, it also clears cobwebs in the mind. Simply going through the motions without real intention is a side effect of boredom. A mind/body connection to any exercise increases results.

 

HIP Studio in Hermosa is a one stop shop for Pilates, strength and endurance training. Providing a wide range of classes, including their signature High Intensity Pilates, HIP Studio lets you customize your weekly workout plan to fit your schedule and reach your goals. Rooted in a Pilates practice, trainers instruct each class implementing Pilates fundamentals for optimal execution of training and movement. The best of both worlds is right off the Pacific Coast Highway.

 

A healthy body craves variety and Pilates promotes efficient movement and increased performance. Cyclists, runners, surfers, golfers, athletes and fitness enthusiasts everywhere can contest cross-training is essential and Pilates takes overall performance to the next level. It doesn’t matter if your target activity is balancing a baby on your hip or training for a marathon, Pilates and cross-training go hand in hand for prime fitness and function.

 

- Kayte Walsh  

Creative Director & Trainer at HIP Studio, Hermosa Beach