Fall in Myrtle Beach means a few things. Golf, lighter traffic, vacationing golfers, opening windows & turning off the A/C, and did I mention folks playing more golf? With over 100 golf courses in Myrtle Beach, it’s easy to see the attraction.

A unique sport that draws all ages, golf is praised for its mental & physical challenges. It demands focus, strength & control. The player’s ability to concentrate & execute precise movements is crucial. So is awareness & breath control. Sound familiar? That’s because these are also all principles of the Pilates Method.

What Do The Pros Know?

If you’ve ever had a golf pro “analyze your swing”, you may know what I’m talking about. Golf pros are trained to break down a golf swing into separate motions. From starting stance to follow through, there are scores of individual movements that complete the swing. The slightest error in any of these motions can result in a poor swing.

To correct a player’s swing, a pro will address the individual motions. Player’s may be told to “open their stance”, or “square their club face”. Adjustments are made in the hips, shoulders, elbows, etc. There are plenty of tips addressing individual golf swing problems. But there’s rarely any talk about our body’s core, and what role it plays. But what does our core have to do with our score?

The Stronger Your Core, The Lower Your Score

Since Golf & Pilates share similar principles, many golfers adapt naturally to Pilates Method. So where does Pilates differ from what the golf pro teaches? The answer is: core strength. More than a buzzword, core strength is the philosophy which drives Pilates. A certified trainer works with you to develop hyper-awareness of your body. Focusing on this mental aspect of a workout has a few key benefits:

• Improved breath control = improved blood flow
• Better awareness of where your body’s weaknesses are
• Gaining the ability to ‘tune out’ distractions & focus on execution

A Pilates workout is effective because it begins with mental preparation. This is what allows us to do the exercises properly. Just as a good golf swing must begin with concentration, a good Pilates workout must begin with a determined & focused mind. The simpatico that exists between Pilates & Golf becomes more apparent as we work on exercises designed for the golfer.

To Prepare Is To Prevent

Earlier this year, we talked about how Pilates can help prevent & rehabilitate injuries. A golf swing is a series of repeated motions. Repetition isn’t a bad thing, but in some cases can lead to injury over time. Especially if the repeated motion is done incorrectly. The corrective elements of Pilates ~ on our posture, our motions & on our breathing ~ not only improves performance. They also help prevent future injury. We’re not meant to struggle against our bodies, after all! Some common injuries & ailments golfers suffer, that Pilates can help correct & prevent:

• Lower Back Pain
• Tendinitis
• Shoulder Joint & Girdle Discomfort
• Hip Instability

Why Wait?

Pilates offers the golfer so many benefits, it’s tough to count them all! Certainly, improving performance is near the top of the list. The shared principles between golf & Pilates make them a natural fit. Golfers of all ages & skill level can benefit. It’s A Core Thing, Myrtle Beach’s premier Pilates studio, is ready to show you how. Fore!

I’d like to talk about “Gym Face” for a moment. You know what I mean, right? That look people get when they are going for that extra rep, lap or set. That look that suggests maybe somewhere in their body, a vital organ is about to explode. Gym Face shows your neighbor that you are serious about fitness. Somewhere in America, right now, is a coach/personal trainer yelling at someone: “C’mon! You gotta get mean with it! Get ugly!” Never trust someone who encourages you to work through the pain.

These people stress me out. And keeping fit isn’t supposed to stress anyone out. It should feel natural, and relieve stress naturally. This is one way Pilates Method stands out from traditional Western fitness techniques.

Get Mean!?

Weightlifting, whether with free weights or machines, is designed to stress specific muscles. The repetitions are done with the mind/body focusing on one area. Running to stay in shape (an incredibly popular form of exercise) works just a few areas of the body. With each of these practices comes a range of potential injuries & maladies. Over time, what has served as a means of fitness can become a source of pain & frustration. Think Gym Face with every rep. Nobody needs that.

Get Nice!

Effective fitness is not about struggling against our bodies. It’s about eliminating struggle with our bodies. Pilates Method teaches this through careful, mindful control ~ of our movements, our breath, and ultimately our entire body. It is mindful, willful awareness that allows us to develop core strength. And it is core strength that will make us stronger, more focused & less stressed. Everybody needs that!

Changes & improvements tend to involve some struggle. That’s true. But not all pain is equal, and not all struggles are equally rewarding (mentally or physically). It’s A Core Thing understands this. Our trainers are dedicated to teaching you the control & awareness you need to convert struggle into reward.

Pilates is for everyone. That’s Everyone. And the benefits are quickly becoming common knowledge in & out of the fitness world. Pilates can relieve stress from our jobs, improve a runner’s stamina and help repair injuries. Keep in touch & keep checking our blog for more ways Pilates can improve your life!

The cost of human health has been very present in the news lately. A plurality of Americans don’t have (or can’t afford) health insurance. Mention “The Public Option” and you’ll hear extremely opinionated – if not misinformed – outcries from either side of the political aisle.

If anyone reading this has ever had an injury (and most of you have), then you’ve probably gone through this mental routine:

To Self: “Ouch! This is not getting better on its own. Maybe it’s time to see the doctor.” checks bank acct. “Hmmm. Maybe I’ll just take a few more Ibuprofen. Try no to put pressure on it. I’ll be all right for awhile longer…”

We’re not going to get political here. Let’s leave that to the “Journalists” on the major news networks. Our goal is to offer you a possible alternative to costly medical procedures & rehabilitation*. If we could potentially save you thousands of dollars, and help you prevent further debilitating injuries, would you continue reading? Yeah, we thought so…

A Familiar Story

Have you ever noticed that the moment we injure ourselves it’s often accompanied by this thought: “Agh! That was stupid!”? Like a moment of clarity, maybe brought on by our brain’s helpful endorphins. We’re suddenly aware that our knee/ankle/wrist/back/etc totally wasn’t meant to do that!

It doesn’t need to take an injury to develop awareness of our body’s limits ~ or its possibilities. Pilates can & will give you this awareness. And body knowledge is body power. So how can this knowledge save you the big bucks?

Who’s Using Pilates, Anyway?

I went to high school in Lake Placid, NY. Not surprisingly, the school was a big draw for aspiring Olympic athletes. Alumni included Stanley Cup winner & 2002 Olympic Silver medalist Mike Richter, and World-Champ skier Thomas Vonn ~ whose wife Lindsey Vonn has recently made headlines, bringing home the Gold in Vancouver. In fact, Lindsey’s medal-winning teammate Julia Mancuso proudly incorporates Pilates into her training regiment. Her personal coach, Kazuko Ikeda, is a certified Pilates instructor.

Though I only skied for fun (c’mon, I’m from South Carolina!), many of my classmates were competitive skiers. I’ll never forget hearing horror stories from athletes, returning after a training accident on the slopes. The first question was always, “Is it a torn ACL?” This fairly common injury was/is a potential career-ending one for would-be Olympians. Serious business, indeed. Vonn’s victories are made more impressive when one learns that she’d sustained similar injuries, yet managed to overcome them, without surgery. An inspiring story, with much to teach us.

How Much To Fix Me, Doc?

The avg. cost of minor ACL surgery is in the neighborhood of $6,000. If you have good insurance, they’ll maybe cover 2/3rds of that. Ask around, and you’ll discover that more serious surgeries on this delicate part of the body can set you back as much as $30-40K! Anyone who’s ever injured a knee knows that it doesn’t take much physical force to do so. Plant your foot the wrong way, shift your balance just so, and, “AGH!!! That was stupid!” Sound familiar? 10Lbs of pressure and you could be out tens of thousands of dollars!

Good News!

Pilates will not only not cost you tens of thousands of $, it very well could save you from needing surgery. Furthermore, Pilates can be one of the best ways to rehabilitate an existing injury after surgery. Do yourself (and your body) a favor ~ check out our rates and compare them with those of even a brief visit to the hospital for a minor surgery (is there even such a thing?). Sound like a better deal? Yeah, we think so too…

*Disclaimer: Always, always, always consult your doctor before beginning ANY type of physical rehab. The more you know about your injury, the more we can do to help you regain strength & function (and maybe even avoid the knife!).