Pilates: The Fountain of Youth for Baby Boomers
Baby boomers are redefining the way we look at aging. The 76 million boomers in the United States of America are living longer, more active lives than previous generations.
However, as they continue to practice the high impact exercises of youth (running, heavy weight training, sports), baby boomers are realizing that these activities take a toll on joints and muscles. Eager to stay fit and youthful, many baby boomers are turning to Pilates for strength and flexibility.
Pilates has been crowned, and appropriately so, as a low impact workout with high results. Used by exercise enthusiasts, athletes, and everyday people wanting to get in shape, Pilates not only uniformly develops the body, it supports the body.
Boomers are realizing that they can give up the high impact workouts, the soreness the day or two after, and the chronic pain without sacrificing their physical fitness goals. In fact, Pilates can help them surpass far beyond any fitness goal and help support the activities they love, i.e. tennis, golf, swimming. Pilates also educates students about their bodies and how to support them when doing high impact activities.
At Excel Pilates Annapolis, we specialize in the original Pilates Method. While all workouts are low in impact and carefully layered, it is definitely NOT a “baby” workout. Our boomer clients have progressed to impressive workouts – workouts that require both mental and physical concentration, keeping bodies and minds charged.
Because of this, Pilates is considered a “fountain of youth” by many. Two great quotes from the inventor himself:
“If your spine is inflexibly stiff at 30, you are old. If it is completely flexible at 60, you are young.”- Joseph H. Pilates
“We retire too early and we die too young, our prime of life should be in the
70’s and old age should not come until we are almost 100.”- Joseph H. Pilates
So, boomer or not, come do Pilates, for life!