How to Enjoy Exercise

Arthritis is a painful condition that affects millions of Australians. Because it is painful, many sufferers stop exercising as the joint pain is uncomfortable. However, exercise has more positive benefits for arthritis than negative ones. A great low-impact exercise for those with arthritis is reformer Pilates. Here are three reasons why you must consider including reformer Pilates in your exercise routine.

Low-Impact Exercise

Head into any gym with arthritis, and you will cringe watching the activities performed. High-intensity cardio, such as treadmill running, puts intense pressure on arthritic joints. Strength training, such as weight lifting, is also painful for those with arthritis. As a gym alternative, reformer Pilates does not involve extra weights or intense cardio. Instead, it is an exercise designed to be done slowly using muscle control to work through the movements. This exercise does not put any extra pressure on your already-pained body parts.

Joint Mobility

As previously mentioned, many people with arthritis do not exercise because they want to avoid pain. However, exercise is the solution needed to help make the pain go away. Firstly, exercise releases endorphins which are the body's happy high. Secondly, exercise helps to keep the joints flexible and fluid. Reformer Pilates is the ideal exercise because the movements are controlled stretches of the body's muscles. The subtle movement keeps your joints moving, which keeps them mobile and stops them from stiffening up from lack of use. Reformer Pilates also helps to slowly increase muscle strength. Strong muscles support arthritic joints by ensuring less pressure is placed on them.

Improved Posture

One of the key benefits of reformer Pilates is improved posture. It is an exercise that is designed to improve the way you stand and to align the spine. The benefit of this for those with arthritis is that moving with a correct posture puts less pressure on the joints. This means less pain is felt because you are not putting extra weight onto your knees and feet joints as you move. When you feel less pain, then you are more likely to continue exercising, as you can feel the positive benefits of it.

Reformer Pilates is an ideal exercise for those experiencing pain from arthritis. Take the time to visit your local Pilates studio to watch or take part in a class. You will quickly see that this exercise regime is an ideal way to tone up and improve your posture while reducing the amount of pain you feel each day.