Goodbye back pain and stiffness! Discover the gentle sport that revolutionizes well-being after 60 years to sculpt your silhouette while protecting your vertebrae.
While after the age of 60, one wrong movement can awaken persistent lower back tension, a specific gentle sport is making a resounding return to well-being routines. No exhausting cardio or traumatic dumbbells for the joints: the movements are based on controlled stretching, fluid resistance and precise alignment. This discipline allows you to sculpt your silhouette even in the event of back pain. It instantly restores the appearance of the posture, all with an almost therapeutic gentleness. Adored by icons like Cindy Crawford, it is essential in many well-being routines.
Be careful, this sport is absolutely not new. On the other hand, he has become more and more known in recent months. And for good reason, it works gently, without impact and above all, it adapts to all levels. In short, this discipline has not stolen its success. At age 60 and over, the Pilates Reformer is the ultimate ally for reconciling a toned body and joint health. Unlike floor exercises, the machine accompanies each movement thanks to a system of springs and pulleys, offering gentle resistance which protects the back while engaging the deep muscles. This is also why Cindy Crawford loves it so much: she can practice it despite her back problems. “It’s only been ten years since I started doing it, and I must say that, as I sometimes have lower back problems, I can still practice Pilates Reformer even when I’m in pain, because the movements can be modified. And I’ve never hurt myself doing it.“, she told the Him & Her podcast. Better yet, this activity is greatly encouraged by health professionals.
“The secret to a vibrant, injury-free life after 60 lies in learning the right movement and strengthening the body from the inside out.“, explains Noemi Nagy-Bhavsar, Pilates instructor specializing in physiotherapy and neurological rehabilitation, to the British version of Women’s Health. An issue which becomes crucial over the years, in particular to preserve the back, the joints but also the strength of the bones. “As the body goes through the hormonal upheavals of peri-menopause and menopause, and bone density declines, it is vital to focus on how exercise can offset these effects.“, she explains.
Thus, by focusing on strengthening deep muscles, the Pilates Reformer effectively counters the decline in bone density linked to menopause. How ? The machine contains springs that create mechanical resistance. This type of work is known to stimulate osteoblasts (the cells responsible for bone formation) and can therefore help slow down osteoporosis. For back pain, the machine helps strengthen the deep muscles (the abs, but also the pelvic floor), which supports the spine and reduces chronic pain. The Reformer is ideal for straightening the shoulders and opening the rib cage, all without gaining massive muscle volume. Finally, the device allows you to stretch with greater amplitude, and therefore regain a certain flexibility.
At 60, Cindy Crawford practices Pilates on a machine twice a week, an ideal rhythm to counter the effects of time on the body, without traumatizing it.
