Pilates exercises focus on posture, strength, and flexibility – all three are important components for any good dancer. The use of Pilates results in a strengthening of the upper body that enhances a dancer’s balance, alignment of body parts, better posture while still or turning, and other spinal muscle alignments. Pilates exercises are also good at lower body parts like the ankles and feet that play a key role in any form of dance.
What Pilates exercises does is increase the alertness level of the body to surrounding physical space and leave the mind in better control and hence more relaxed. The purpose of the Pilates exercise is to make sure that the mind is aware of all muscles involved in every moment and to take them into account while maintaining balance and agility. Because of this, Pilates can work on nearly every part of the body.
Dance teachers or coaches will often recommend Pilates exercises to dancers to help them improve their balance, muscles, movements, and body-parts coordination.
The body is a machine that can wear out if it is continually under stress. Dancing is a very stressful activity as far as the body and mind is concerned. The muscles are always overworked and the mind has to keep up with the maintenance of balance and general control. Pilates help to bring discipline, easier control and coordination while at the same time increasing muscle strength and also helping with relaxation.
Pilates can work on isolated muscles groups (like the shoulders) or it can work on complex muscle groups (abdomen and back). A different exercise works on all muscles in the body and helps to restore and rebuild muscle tissue that has broken down due to stress. Increase strength ensures that a similar muscle tissue breakdown is reduced in the future so that dancers do not get tired too easily and their body does not hurt once they stop dancing.