Pilates is The Best Treatment For Back Pain

November 25th, 2009

When you think about all of the treatments available for back pain, you most likely think of the usual treatments such as doctors, medication, acupuncture, massage, and physical therapy. But what about Pilates? There are so many people who are spending countless dollars in order to relieve their pain. When you are already in pain, stress tends to make things worse.

We are going to assume that you have the worse possible case of back pain accompanied by bulging, herniated, and slipped disks. An individual’s pain can be so bad that it causes numbing, tingling, and an inability to walk, lie down, sit, or stand without experiencing muscle spasms and agonizing pain. This sounds like a nightmare but it happens to a lot of people.

There may be doubts in your mind that you will ever find relief. It can be very difficult not to feel like you will ever achieve relief because the pain is literally unbearable. There is only so much that doctors and pain medication can do. When it is all said and done, everything comes down to how well you take care of yourself. Taking steps to relieve your pain as well as heal your body will help you to live a much happier, pain-free life.

Pilates may be considered the better treatment for back pain because it involves no medication, no long drives to the doctor, no expensive massage treatments, and no fancy acupuncture treatments. People who experience the worst pain are wonderful candidates for Pilates. The exercises are completely safe and recommended for a number of things from pain relief to weight loss.

The exercises involve lying down on a mat, watching a DVD or video, and following simple instructions on how to complete a movement. There are advanced, intermediate, and beginner ways to do each of the exercises, so everyone gets a chance to heal. You might be thinking to yourself, “If Pilates is just exercise, I can perform my own.” Pilates isn’t just any type of exercise, it is a set of movements that involves the power of the mind, deep breathing, relaxation, small movements, and balance.

It is not difficult at all to master. When you first start out, you are going to wonder if you are even doing anything at all because the movements are so minimum and the exercises are so easy. Within about two weeks, you should begin to notice that you have more strength all throughout your body. The exercises mainly target the abdominal muscles, lower back, buttock, and hip muscles, but still work to tone everything else from the legs to the arms.

Something that is very important to know about Pilates is that it helps to lengthen and straighten the spine. A weak spine cannot heal, that is why it needs more strength. Your body needs to naturally fall back into alignment so your pain isn’t as bad. Once you can get your spine back into the proper alignment, the body heals itself from there. It all starts in the lower back.

The only thing that you can do from here is give it a try. Other than that, just remember that ultimate healing comes from taking care of yourself. If you notice that you are taking an abundance of pain pills or are trying various other methods to relieve your pain, then you know that you have nothing to lose. What you will notice about Pilates is that it doesn’t make your pain worse or take a lot of time to do. It is beneficial for everyone who wants to get better.

You can find range of DVD’s on sale with Pilates and stretching exercises for easing back pain which have been recommended by a leading British Osteopath / Physiotherapist.
Please also visit my blog on using stretching and Pilates to help ease back pain, and leave your comments.

Is Pilates All That It Will Take To Get Rid Of My Back Pain?

October 31st, 2009

Perhaps you’re a skeptic, or perhaps you just want to know if Pilates is really all it takes to get rid of your pain. You may be wondering if you are going to need to take medication while you try these exercises. People tend to have concerns about trying new methods to relieve their pain. A lot of the concern often comes from previous experiences with other methods.

What are some methods that can fail to provide lasting relief from pain? Prescription pain medication, surgery, chiropractors and too much rest. Taking the easy way out usually is the same as heading down a road of destruction. Prescription medication and surgery can leave you in a worse condition than when you started.

With Pilates, there is no need for anything except for the exercises themselves. The only thing you need to be concerned with is getting out of bed and performing ten minutes of Pilates stretches and movements. Will it hurt? Absolutely not. The reason why the movements will not hurt is because they are very small movements, usually not reaching any more than a three to six inch radius.

The idea is to focus on the most important muscles such as the lower back, abdominal, hips and buttocks. These are the muscles that establish the core – or center of the body. If you are rock solid in these areas, your spine will be as straight as a board and back pain will be nonexistent, which is why there will be no more need for any further remedies.

If you are currently on pain medication, then your body may has developed a dependence on it. The best way to get off of the medicine is to discuss with your interest in alternative methods of pain relief with doctor. Let them know that you would like to try a more natural route. Tell them about your interest in Pilates.

Pilates is even recommended by many doctors. Essentially, it is a form of physical therapy. You can practice Pilates at home as much as you would like. If you happen to perform a movement that brings you more pain, question your posture as well as if you have your body correctly positioned for the exercise you are doing. In no way should Pilates bring you any pain, especially since it involves very little movement.

You may be wondering if a set of exercises which involves no movement if there will provide you with any real results. The answer is that yes, you will see results and they will start to be apparent quickly. When you are practicing your deep breathing and relaxing your body, the movements that you will perform build strength, resulting in a firmer, stronger body that is able to fend off pain.

Most people prefer to practice Pilates exercises twice per day, while others only do them once every other day. It all comes down to personal preference. Only you know what is best for you, but natural is the best choice for everyone.

You can find range of DVD’s on sale with Pilates and stretching exercises for easing back pain which have been recommended by a leading British Osteopath / Physiotherapist.
Please also visit my blog on using stretching and Pilates to help ease back pain, and leave your comments.

Free Pilates Intermediates DVD

October 30th, 2009

When you buy any of our nine superb pilates DVDs your free Pilates for Intermediates DVD (worth £17) will be automatically shipped with your order.
In Addition as a special bonus for a limited period Free Worldwide Postage will be included
So head over to www.pilatesorstretchforbackpain.com now to get this special offer, before we run out.

Can Pilates Really Relieve My Back Pain?

October 23rd, 2009

How can you become convinced that Pilates is the answer to your back pain? There is only one way but a lot of people don’t want to take the time to find out. Only those who have a real desire to discover what their lives could be like without medication and all of those visits to the doctor will be able to experience what life is like without feeling like a prisoner to their pain.

Have you ever felt like you were a slave to your pain? It is obvious that physical activity works to relieve pain. Everyone knows it but not many practice it. What do people do when they are in pain? Most take pills and or have surgery in extreme cases but this is rarely a good solution over the long term and can often lead to even worse pain later on. What if you don’t do either and just live with it? You may think that no one in their right mind would want to do that but many do because they are afraid.

It is understandable that some are skeptical about Pilates especially if you’ve already tried other treatments and gotten no results. If more people took the time out to try natural methods first instead of last there could be a lot less suffering. It is human nature to assume that the most popular methods work and give those a try first and this is probably how it will always be.

Pilates helps because it works on your strength and your spinal alignment and is easy on the body. People have success with Pilates because it is simple to do and doesn’t usually take any more than 10 minutes per day.

The only thing you can do is try it to see if it will work for you. People who have a high tolerance for pain are usually much stronger than those who do not. Pilates helps to make you stronger. What do you think happens when the spine is out of alignment? You might think”wellI know my spine isn’t out of alignment because I don’t have scoliosis.” You don’t have to have scoliosis or any other spinal abnormality to experience pain.

You might only have one or two vertebrae out of alignment and experience unimaginable pain. Everyone is different and everyone has different tolerances for pain. Depending on where your spine is out of alignment you may end up experiencing pain in different parts of your body.

If you are unsure about Pilates all you have to do is to perform some research on the subject. You are bound to find tons of information relating to how Pilates helps to relieve pain. But in the end the only way to find out is to try it yourself. Just know that some form of physical activity is better than none at all. If you’re going to get some exercise what better way to start off than with something that was made for healing?

You can find range of DVD’s on sale with Pilates and stretching exercises for easing back pain which have been recommended by a leading British Osteopath / Physiotherapist.
Please also visit my blog on using stretching and Pilates to help ease back pain, and leave your comments.

Misconceptions About Pilates In Relation To Pain Relief

October 19th, 2009

On any given day, people do a good bit of sitting, standing, lying down and walking. With every movement you make while you are in pain, your misery becomes even more pronounced. That is another reason why people are bewildered when they are asked to perform more physical activity. How can physical activity possibly contribute toward your healing when your body isn’t up to it or even strong enough to carry out those movements? People who think this way may have a good point.

If you are in pain you usually go to the doctor, get a prescription, take your medicine and do the best you can. If you really want to know the truth, in order to relieve pain you need to engage in more physical activity and you have got to start somewhere. Pilates is a series of simple exercises that have made it possible for millions and millions of people to once again live normal lives

Pilates is very different from other exercises. There is a great deal of concentration and deep breathing involved while performing the movements. As a matter of fact, some people aren’t even aware that they are actually moving while doing the exercises because the concentration is so deep. When you harness the power of your mind and use it to heal and strengthen your body, great things can happen.

Pilates involves using your inner strength to heal your body. Instead of working on larger muscle groups, Pilates works to strengthen the smaller muscles within the larger muscle groups- the ones which are closest to the bones. Once you have developed strength in those parts of the body, you can then work on building even more strength – but again, everyone has to start somewhere.

There is no better way to start relieving your pain than with Pilates. Why? Because it has been designed to be used by people who are weak and in pain as well as those who are already strong and just want to develop more strength. Pilates should be looked at as something that helps maintain good health as well. When you slack off, you will notice that your spine falls out of alignment.

Why is it that you need a strong core? Because it is the foundation of the entire body. All of the body’s parts are connected to it – including the ones that people tend to complain about the most such as the neck, head and lower back. There is nothing better than being able to move freely without pain.

Another misconception about Pilates is that you need to hire a professional to teach you how to do the exercises. That is not true and you can do these exercises at home. All you need is a DVD and a Pilates mat to do the exercises. One may assume that doing Pilates will take up a lot of their time. This is yet another misconception. A typical session only lasts for 10 minutes and you get the same benefits as you would from physical therapy.

So, what it all comes down to is that yes, Pilates is a great way to alleviate pain. It works better than a pill and is very convenient. It doesn’t cost any money at all and only requires that you have a passion for healing.

You can find range of DVD’s on sale with Pilates and stretching exercises for easing back pain which have been recommended by a leading British Osteopath / Physiotherapist.
Please also visit my blog on using stretching and Pilates to help ease back pain, and leave your comments.

Does Pilates Work To Ease Pain

October 19th, 2009

Everyone has heard of physical therapy for pain, but what about Pilates? There are similarities between both. For one, they both involve slow, controlled movements. The second thing is that they can both be done by people who are in pain. The answer ultimately is yes, Pilates can help to decrease pain. However, it is important not to confuse Pilates with other tedious exercises such as lifting weights and running.

One must be able to withstand that amount of physical activity without further injuring themselves. If that is your goal, then Pilates would be a great way to build your inner strength – and rather quickly at that. So how does Pilates help to relieve pain? It relieves pain by strengthening your core. No matter what type of back or neck pain you are experiencing, you can be sure that it is coming from your core in one way or another. When you strengthen the muscles in the center of your body, it stabilizes and straightens the alignment of your spine; it’s as simple as that.

When the muscles are weak, misalignment can occur because there is nothing there to help hold your alignment in place. You may even find yourself walking, sitting and standing improperly due to the lack of muscle tone in your core. Instead of standing, walking and sitting with ease, your body is attempting to support itself by using other muscles that shouldn’t be used to perform those actions. Pressure, muscle spasms and cramping in parts of the body that should not be experiencing such stress are the result.

It may sound crazy, but you might just end up having extra pressure and muscle knots in your hips or shoulders in an attempt to support your back. This can lead to cramping and unbearable pain. When you go to the doctor to talk about your pain, they will most likely recommend physical therapy, right? In a lot of cases, insurance doesn’t cover physical therapy, so it ends up costing money – and lots of it. If you don’t choose to participate in physical therapy, your pain only gets worse from lack of care.

Pilates can help you to get past the difficulties of having to go to a pain management doctor. It can also help you to avoid having to take as many pain killers, or even eliminate the need for them entirely. One of the best things about Pilates is that it takes less time than attending a physical therapy session. You go through all of the movements, but without all of the pressure and unnecessary pain.

In time, (usually around two or three weeks) you will notice that your strength begins to increase. Like any other exercise regimen, you can begin doing more and more with each session. With every passing day, your pain subsides and life gets easier. That is because you have stronger muscles supporting the ligaments and joints in your spine. It is no longer a total-body effort just to stand up or lie down. A pain-free life can become a reality for anyone. It is just a matter of focusing on it and actually wanting it enough that you strive to make it happen.

You can find range of DVD’s on sale with Pilates and stretching exercises for easing back pain which have been recommended by a leading British Osteopath / Physiotherapist.
Please also visit my blog on using stretching and Pilates to help ease back pain, and leave your comments.

Ease Your Pain and Lose Weight With Pilates and Stretching

October 11th, 2009

Some would consider Pilates and stretching to be a fairly new type of way to heal your body. In actuality, Pilates was invented decades ago and has been used for several different things by people from all parts of the world. Unfortunately, you are very likely to experience back pain at some time or another. Everyone is a target.

Back pain is something that can affect anyone at anytime in his or her life. Pilates and stretching can be used to heal the problems that are causing the back pain. Most likely, if you are a sufferer of back pain, it is not just one thing you do that is causing it, but your entire lifestyle. The more out of shape that you are, the more pressure your body is going to be under. More weight puts stress on the joints and all organs inside of the body resulting in feelings of fatigue, the development of overall ill health, and pain. The back is the core of the body. It helps us maintain our body’s inner strength. All main sources of energy and strength come from the core parts of the body.

If you have been suffering from back pain, you may feel as if you are the only one who understands your situation. Pilates can help ease your back pain by correcting the posture and taking the stress off the joints by helping you to lose weight. This is not just another ordinary exercise like many assume. Pilates was invented strictly for healing the body by bringing into harmony all of its parts while strengthening the most important center.

The best way to perform Pilates exercises is at home on a mat. Typical stretching movements and exercises take about ten minutes per session, and should be done about twice per day. Although beginners may do much better only performing one session per day. It doesn’t matter what time of day the sessions are performed. Intermediate’s can usually do about one to two 30-minute sessions per day focusing on different body parts.

One of the best things about Pilates is that it is very easy and not hard on the body. The movements are however, very intense, but short in motion. Just watching someone perform a Pilates workout session may appear as if they are doing hardly anything at all. The truth is that they are feeling every inch of it. Unlike weight lifting, there is no straining or burning involved. There is nothing painful about Pilates. The stretching movements and exercises create a stress-relieving effect that the entire body can experience. There is a lot of deep breathing involved to keep the movements as relaxing and pain relieving as possible.

If you are a skeptic and do not believe that Pilates and stretching exercises can help to align your spine, help you to lose weight, and get rid of your back pain, then all you have to do is conduct a little bit of research on the subject. What you will find is billions of claims from people all over the world stating that this is by far, one of the best things they could have ever done for themselves.

You can find range of DVD’s on sale with Pilates and stretching exercises for easing back pain which have been recommended by a leading British Osteopath / Physiotherapist.
Please also visit my blog on using stretching and Pilates to help ease back pain, and leave your comments.

Pilates and Stretch – Get More of What You Already Have – Without Medicine

October 5th, 2009

It doesn’t matter what type of pain you are experiencing, it can be fixed. We are not talking about getting fixed by taking a trip to the doctor or chiropractor’s office. What we are talking about is good old fashioned, natural healing right inside the comfort of your own home. No herbal remedies or medication required.

What would you do if you knew there was a way to heal all parts of your body by using your body? A lot of health guru’s claim that the body heals itself. And you know what? They are right. It can, but only if you have the proper technique. Some years ago, a man by the name of Joseph Pilates invented a set of exercises used to heal the body from the core outward. These set of exercises are called Pilates – obviously after the inventor. The exercises were invented in hopes of helping people to strengthen themselves by using the power and weight of their own bodies. This meant that nothing else was necessary – no weights, no expensive gym memberships, etc.

To make a long story short, the invention went worldwide and now billions upon billions of people are using it as a form of pain relief. But, how does an exercise involving only the use of your body weight cure and prevent pain? Simple. Pilates is a set of slow and short movements that involve using your core for all of the exercises involved. There is also a lot of deep breathing and concentration involved, which are two of the things most necessary for these exercises to work properly.

The movements are focused around the back and help place the spine back into alignment. Now, all of this may sound a bit out of the ordinary, but it really works. Exercises that are slow in movement really help to build the muscles from the inside out. The result with Pilates and stretching is less tense muscles, a stronger body from the core outward, and no more pain. When people exercise, their body’s release stress-relieving hormones as well as pain-relieving hormones. Pilates and stretching exercises have been specifically designed to target stress, knots, tense muscles, and misalignment. These are the things that the majority of all people suffer from.

It is those exact things that cause pain inside of the body. When the body is not properly aligned, there can be a fierce struggle between certain muscles in order to help maintain balance. Because nothing is being done to reestablish alignment, tension knots can build up along the spine, neck, and shoulder area in an attempt to create a straighter spine. It is our body’s way of trying to heal and maintain itself. Without the stress, tension, and misalignment, everything would be just fine. Stress-relieving hormones as well as pain-relieving hormones are a wonderful thing and even better when they can be plentiful and ongoing inside of a person’s body.

When people take medication for pain, all they are doing is attempting to add more of a chemical their body already contains. All they have to do is work on creating more of it through exercising! Deep breathing is one of the things that is involved in all Pilates exercises. The lungs are able to expand with this sort of breathing and release stress from all parts of the body. After you finish with your very short set of exercises, you will notice an automatic difference in the way your body feels.

The first session may seem the most difficult, especially since there is so much concentration involved. In time, you will get the hang of it. The more you do it, the more skilled you will become. It is simple, quick, easy, and effective.

You can find range of DVD’s on sale with Pilates and stretching exercises for easing back pain which have been recommended by a leading British Osteopath / Physiotherapist.
Please also visit my blog on using stretching and Pilates to help ease back pain, and leave your comments.

Pilates and Stretching – The Perfect Movements For Those In Pain

September 26th, 2009

Chances are that you have already heard about all of the benefits of exercise and strengthening the body and how they can help to heal your pain. Many people question whether this is actually true. If exercising can help to heal the body and make everything better again, then why is it that some people cannot perform certain exercises without their pain actually becoming worse than it already is?

The truth is that not all exercises help to assist with the relief of pain. No one knows your body better than you do. To say that lying around all day and constantly “taking it easy” will help is a lie. Any doctor who advises you not to exercise or get up and move around is only telling you that so he can continue to feed you pain pills. Chiropractors are no better. They want you to believe that every single ache and pain is a subluxation. The reason they tell you this is so that you will rush back into their offices and give them more of your precious time and cash.

When there are aches and pains in your body, they do signify that something is wrong, especially if they are consistent and seem to have no real cause. Perhaps you know what caused your pain, but are not doing anything about it but lying around and popping pills. How can one expect to heal and get to the root of the problem? Sure, it is always nice to have a licensed physician there to reassure you that everything is going to be fine. In reality, people in pain know there is only one way to get better, and that is by taking action.

If you can’t perform certain exercises, then what can you do? Pilates. This type of exercise is very simple to perform by anyone who is in pain. Unlike weightlifting, there is no straining or excess pressure on the joints and back involved. Running, power walking, and other aerobics exercises can be a source of extreme pain for some chronic sufferers because their bodies simply are not prepared to exert so much force. It can be dangerous for people to just get up and do it when they are not mentally and physically prepared.

Pilates is a great exercise for pain because it also involves a series of light stretching movements that can help to prepare the body for the exercises as well as everyday life. After performing a series of Pilates exercises, your body will not experience as much pain as before because it will be trained to feel good and strong. What you will be doing is working your muscles from the inside out, beginning at your core. Your core is located in the center of your body and consists of a “box” of muscles. Those muscles are the buttocks, hips, lower back, and abdominal area. Strengthening this particular area brings your entire spine into alignment and balances your whole body.

You are going to sit up straighter, stand taller, walk better, and have less pressure and stress in areas that you are currently experiencing. Your core is the heart of your strength. More stress and tension goes into this area more than any other part of the body. Without a healthy center, scoliosis and all other types of painful problems can easily develop. People usually complain of experiencing the most pain in their necks, backs, and knees. All three of these areas can be relieved with Pilates. Most people are able to stop taking medication within six months. Nothing can describe the feeling of being free from pain and doctors. All of that is a huge stress relief within itself. You do not have to keep dreaming about being pain free, you can choose to make it your reality.

You can find range of DVD’s on sale with Pilates and stretching exercises for easing back pain which have been recommended by a leading British Osteopath / Physiotherapist.
Please also visit my blog on using stretching and Pilates to help ease back pain, and leave your comments.

Pilates and Stretch Helps People To Move With Ease – Pain-Free

September 19th, 2009

There are various conditions that inhibit movement. Not being able to move about freely without experiencing pain is utter torture. No one should have to live that way. Sadly, many will continue to live that way because they are in the dark about things that can help them. Many would be surprised to know that something so simple can cure them.

That something is Pilates and stretching exercises. And yes, I said “cure”. Some people think that there is no cure for their pain. They continuously live with the idea that this is it for them. There is no going back and their condition will only get worse. That type of thinking is what kills us. Thinking in such a manner is unhealthy and is also an indication that one has given up hope on getting better and becoming pain-free.

There are several reasons as to why Pilates is such a good cure for painful physical ailments. Any problem with your body that you may be experiencing can be made better with Pilates. It may sound too good to be true, but it isn’t. Pilates exercises help to strengthen the core of the body, which consist of the buttocks, abdominal, lower back, and hip muscles. In Pilates, this area is referred to as the “box”. When this area is healthy and strong from the inside out, all parts of the body come together in perfect harmony.

When the body is able to become strong without a lot of work, moving with ease is much more of a possibility without any injury or pain involved. These exercises were invented to help protect the body from injury as well as to add maximum strength to it’s most inner parts. The spine is the main focus when it comes to Pilates. A healthy spine equals a healthy body. Even the beginner’s Pilates movements will help to strengthen and straighten the spine. Any pulling or tearing that is going on inside of the body will stop once all of the pressure is released from the core.

Over time, it is easy for all people to develop painful ailments. Some of the most painful issues can spur off from from something as simple as years of slouching and improper lifting. Obvious causes of bodily pain are recent car accidents and sports injuries. Although all injuries and problems can be treated at a doctor’s office, chiropractor, etc., most usually persist for the duration of a person’s life. Bulging disks, spinal subluxations, arthritis, and tense muscles can all be relieved when one decides to embark upon a daily Pilates routine.

It doesn’t take very long at all to begin moving with ease. People who have been unable to walk without experiencing pain are released from the ongoing torture. The same goes for people who have been unable to sit or lie down for long periods of time. All it takes a little bit of simple and easy physical conditioning in the form of Pilates to get things back to normal.

You can find range of DVD’s on sale with Pilates and stretching exercises for easing back pain which have been recommended by a leading British Osteopath / Physiotherapist.
Please also visit my blog on using stretching and Pilates to help ease back pain, and leave your comments.