Pilates exercises focus on posture, strength, and flexibility—all important components of any good dancer. Using Pilates strengthens the upper body which enhances the dancer’s balance, alignment of body parts, better posture while stationary or spinning, and alignment of other spinal muscles. Pilates exercises are also good for the lower parts of the body such as the ankles and feet which play a major role in any dance form.
What Pilates does is increase the body’s level of attention to the surrounding physical space and leave the mind in better control and therefore more relaxed. The purpose of Pilates is to ensure that the mind is aware of and considers all the muscles involved in each moment while maintaining balance and agility. For this reason, Pilates can work almost every part of the body.
Dance teachers or coaches often recommend Pilates to dancers to help them improve their balance, muscles, movements, and coordination of body parts.
The body is a machine that can wear out if it is under constant stress. Dancing is a very stressful activity for the body and mind. Muscles are always overworked and the mind has to keep up to maintain balance and general control. Pilates exercises help achieve discipline, easier control and coordination while at the same time increasing muscle tone and also aiding in relaxation.
Pilates can work isolated muscle groups (such as the shoulders) or it can work complex muscle groups (abdomen, back). A different exercise that works all the muscles in the body and helps to restore and rebuild muscle tissue that has been broken down due to stress. Increasing strength ensures that corresponding muscle tissue breakdown is reduced in the future so that dancers don’t tire so easily and their bodies don’t get hurt once they stop dancing.