Pilates is the ideal cross-training secret, which will benefit your cycling, that you’ll be wishing you tried sooner. The century-old practice, which was originally named “Contrology”, was created around six key principles:
- Breath,
- Concentration,
- Centring,
- Control,
- Precision, as well as
- Flow
These principles help you to connect your mind with your body in addition to focusing on the quality of the exercise over quantity. This is wonderful news if you’re short on time.
As a consequence, Pilates is an effective as well as worthwhile addition to every part of your training routine. Even if you are not actively training for a race and you just cycle or run for the sheer joy of it, Pilates will help your performance in, and enjoyment of, cycling.
Improved Core Strength
Pilates is responsible for targeting the core muscles, particularly the abdominals, hips and glutes. Being stronger in your core makes sure that cycling is much easier as well as more efficient.
Strengthening your core, or stability muscles, by practising Pilates also helps you to balance on your bike by keeping your spine in a stable position while the limbs move. This is helpful for competitive cyclists in terms of performance improvement, and for the amateur cyclist going to work or the shops and making the ride it safer and more efficient.
Having a strong and stable foundation will help you in being able to generate more power through your legs. This in turn will make you faster as well as more efficient on your bike.
Improved Alignment
In addition to core stability, your cycling performance will also benefit from the improved limb alignment which Pilates offers. When your legs are aligned well, from the hip joint down to your feet, this will enable you to utilise the strength in your muscles more efficiently so making it easier to cycle. This equal distribution of your muscle strength will also lessen the risk of injury on your bike. Pilates is all about moving about with ease and which comes with enhancing the alignment of your limbs for optimal functioning of your muscles as well as your body as a whole.
Pilates Exercises To Enhance Core Strength
Oblique Crunch With Step Out
Begin in a forearm plank. Have your elbows under shoulders. Make sure that your core, as well as your glutes, are engaged so that your body forms a dead-straight straight line from your head to your heels. Step right foot out about 8 cm towards the right, then return to your starting position. Bend your left knee and then drive it up towards your left triceps. Return to your starting position. Perform 10 repetitions and then repeat on the opposite side. Complete two sets.
Contact Trifocus Fitness Academy
Do you want to become a guru at Pilates? If you do, then you need to do our Pilates Instructor Course. Find out more by following this link.
