Professional athletes and coaches recommend a range of activities to improve mobility, coordination, balance and core strength, so I was pleased to see all the exercises in the magazine mirror those we do in our class. 

The article identified four of the common areas where runners could benefit from Pilates, namely the hip abductors, glutes, hamstrings and calf muscles.  

Abduction and adduction exercises are good for the hips, such as squeezing a Pilates ball and hip rotation exercises like the oyster are particularly effective.  Exercises for your glutes which include lifting your leg in 4-point kneeling or performing single-leg bridges can also benefit the runner. A great exercise for hamstrings is to lie on your back with your feet on a chair or large Pilates ball and lift and lower your bottom.  Ankle joint mobility and stability can be improved through calf raises and knee bends. Exercises to improve soleus strength can prevent the dreaded runner’s calf strain.

Common injuries such as Iliotibial Band Syndrome and Piriformis Syndrome are often caused by over-training and under-stretching.  Incremental improvement in performance can also be made by improving core strength through exercises like the plank, press-ups, and other movements that we do in our classes.

Combine Pilates with your running programme and next year's marathon or a Park Run PB may not be such a dream after all!