The Power of Pilates for your Winter Holiday Prep

Skiing and snow-boarding are both a highly active activity and form of exercise that people of all ages can enjoy.  Unfortunately, it is not something that we can practice all year round and tends to be a long-awaited trip we take each year.  This means our bodies are often unprepared for the strenuous work we ask of it during a week on the slopes, sometimes causing us significant pain and discomfort – whether it’s just a result of our efforts on the snow or of sustaining an injury.

Many people are starting to realise this and are taking steps to get ‘ski fit’.  They do this by taking classes such as circuit-based classes.  These classes are great in improving cardiovascular fitness. However, these types of classes often neglect our core muscles.  Skiing and boarding demands a lot from these muscles, so it makes sense to prepare them in advance of going to the slopes.

Pilates is a fantastic way to do this, improving both strength, endurance and balance throughout your body from your core through to your arms & legs.

Having a flexible, strong and resilient core with give you greater control on the snow.  This improved control and agility help you feel like movement is effortless when on your skis.  Effortless movement requires less concentration as well as a reduced demand of your cardiovascular system.  This reduction in fatigue allows you to be more alert on the snow, so less likely to fall as you get tired and distracted.

At goPhysio our Pilates classes are all lead by physiotherapists and sports therapists, all with a vast experience of rehabilitating around pain and injury.  We have classes available from beginners through to advanced and we can adapt any exercise for you to work around any limitations you may have.

Here’s a couple of great Pilates exercises for you to practice if you’re off to the slopes this season.

Foot Series

  1. Stand with your feet hip width apart
  2. Bend your knee into a squat, keeping your chest upright and knees pointing over your toes
  3. From the squat position slowly rise up onto your toes (keeping the knees bent) then lower the heels
  4. Repeat 5 heel raises per squat, 10 times
foot series

Shoulder Bridge

  1. Lying on your back with your knees bent, with or without a resistance band round your knees
  2. Squeeze your bottom to lift your hips off the floor, keep resistance in the band if you’re using one
  3. Hold, keeping the pelvis level
  4. Lower then repeat
preparing for holiday exercises

Clam Level 3

  1. Start in a natural standing position.
  2. Bend your right hip 45 and the knee to 90 degrees, keeping your legs a hip distance apart.
  3. Put your hands on your waist. Inhale to prepare.
  4. Exhale, rotate your right hip outwards, keeping your pelvis stable.
  5. Inhale, rotate your right hip back to the middle, keeping the pelvis stable.
  6. Repeat up to ten times on the right leg and then repeat on the opposite side.
clam 1
clam level 3

Allow us to help you prepare for the slopes and to make your holiday as enjoyable as it should be.  Take a look here for more information about our range of Pilates classes and flexible booking options.

Read More

Train For The Slopes

Get Ready For The Slopes

5 Tips To Survive The Slopes This Winter

The Benefits of Pilates For Winter Sports

Reviews

What They Say​

Antonia Perez
Antonia Perez
2023-11-25
We got an appointment promptly, the appointment went smoothly. Very nice physios. 👌
Fran Helen
Fran Helen
2023-11-06
Really knowledgeable and supportive, with clear advice to help. I feel so reassured after this appointment, highly recommended, they really listened to me. Thank you.
Brenda Hinnell
Brenda Hinnell
2023-10-27
First visit and in urgent need of physio as really suffering from not being able to run. Lottie was very patient and understanding with a lovely manner. She worked wonders and I am looking forward to my next visit.
James Grierson
James Grierson
2023-10-21
Great first appointment, really listened to my problems annd thorough anssessment and have come up with a clear rehab plan to get me back on track.
Nuisha Russo
Nuisha Russo
2023-10-21
I had a really good visit to GoPhysio. I have had sciatica for two months and it wasn't showing any signs of improvement. Sophie gave me a thorough assessment and then provided acupuncture and ultra sound. After one visit my sciatica has almost gone. I am really pleased.
kay luffman
kay luffman
2023-10-08
Everyone at go physio is so helpful & friendly. I have been receiving treatment for golfers elbow from Hannah Gelder, and couldn’t be happier, I wish I had gone earlier! She explains everything well, and guides you through exercises etc. very amiable and makes you feel at ease. Highly recommend
Chris Kitchen
Chris Kitchen
2023-10-07
They are a great friendly team who always manage to sort my sports injuries out. Can recommend them highly
Mark Dewey
Mark Dewey
2023-10-05
Go Physio definitely the place to go, came away feeling better and reassured and with a plan going forward.
Christine Raw
Christine Raw
2023-10-05
Very professional service and excellent treatment. Listened and gave good advice.
Kay Horton
Kay Horton
2023-10-05
I have been attending goPhysio for about two years. As a company they are very professional and provide a very good level of service to include efficiency and courtesy and are always consistent in their approach. This very much includes the admin /reception team whom are the first people you make contact with. My Physio has excellent knowledge and has assisted me with sound advice and ongoing exercise regimes which are achievable and realistic. This has supported me well in between appointments. Although always busy I am normally able to see Roz at a mutually convenient time. Thank you to all the team