Pilates And Rowing

[[old] cityeast]

In Summer I spend nearly all my time on my road bike, anything between 1 and 2 hours, favouring tough mountain climbs (with the rewards of some seriously fast downhills at the end). <br><br>However, now that winter is here, and shin splints from winter running have driven me to indoor rowing, I am looking at introducing Pilates also to develop Core strength.<br><br>My question is, how compatible is Pilates with Indoor Rowing, and if so, what is the best way to co-ordinate the two (ie which should be done first?)

[[old] starboardrigged1seat]

I too, spend a great amount of time on my bike during the summer, but I use some form of Pilates almost year round. I try to stretch and do some simple exercises every morning upon rising for 5 to 10 minutes, another 5 to 10 minutes (always) after an erg workout, 5 minutes (before), and 5 to 10 minutes before I sleep. On weekends, I try to do 30 to 45 minutes of solid time, doing a set Yoga rountine and assorted Pilates exercises. Do you have any of the equiptment that they recommend? I've always found it too expensive to justify buying.

[[old] cityeast]

Well I have only just started out with Pilates. I have an inflatable ball (it was given to me), but I would never go as far as buying a reformer. Magic circle, maybe if I ever get to an advanced routine. Otherwise I will stick with the mat routines, together with other activities that should be enough.

[[old] Janice]

I would advise you to take it slow and not do too many sessions of pilates on top of rowing. I was doing this and found that it stressed my lower back quite a lot. I would spend the money to go and have session with a pilates instructor to make sure you are doing the exercises right and I would break up the workouts; pilates in the morning, rowing in the evening.

[[old] Andy Darling]

I'm with Janice on this one. It's easy to turn Pilates, Tai Chi, Chi Gung etc into hard exercise sessions rather than counters to the muscle shortening sessions of erging, cycling, running etc. You can do yourself in with the 'soft' arts just as you can with the hard 'uns!

[[old] cityeast]

Thanks for the advice, it was my plan to separate the two activities with as much time as possible, and in the order Janice suggests.<br><br>I prolapsed a lower disc in the middle of last year, and I don't want it happening again. The reason I want to give Pilates a try is because on the rower like my body is not symetrical ( I seem to put more pressure on one "cheek" than the other, same with cycling). Also, my core strength is definitely lacking. <br><br>I have heard from others that Pilates does a lot to counter this, but of course, I know I must be careful, especially if I am going to combine 30min, 60min and 10K rows into my routine.

[[old] neilb]

I started pilates about 18 months ago mainly as a means of staying flexible as I grow old. I was fortunate. The gym where I started it had a very good instructor, who after 6 months left to teach at a pilates school abroad, and then found a replacement advanced instructor who was even better!<br><br>It has helped me a lot with flexibilty, strength (including leg, core and back) and posture. All of these complement the rowing.<br><br>I tend to do 40-45 mins every day with some variety in the routine. It can be a very hard, challenging, routine even though the slow controlled movements may look easy. (Bit like standing on a stability ball. It may look easy once you are up there but try it and you will appreciate how much is going on within the body to keep you there.)<br><br>I always try and follow a long session on the erg with some pilates but nothing too intense and I find that the controlled breathing and stretching is a good way to help warm down and restore length and flexibilty to the muscles used on the erg. <br><br>Find a good instructor, not just technically but one you can relate to, particularly if you had a bacj problem. It is a marvellous form of exercise when done properly, you do not need any equipment, it will help keep you fit, strong and flexible and it will last a lifetime.<br><br>Each person is different but I soon found that I could perform the routines well and without needing to be a class. So, it is ideal for daily use and when you are holiday (I spent 2 weeks in the hills in Corsica last summer and pilates on the patio at 7.00 am in the early morning sun was fantasic - shame I could not take the C2 with me.)