Two Pilates exercises recommended by an expert are key to maintaining a healthy back as you grow older
Rebecca Dadoun, a renowned Pilates instructor and founder of Pilates Prescription, has shared a two-move posture workout that focuses on targeted, low-impact exercises to strengthen postural muscles and relieve tension caused by poor posture. These moves are gentle enough to help ease the spine and surrounding muscles into extension, making them accessible for everyone.
Dadoun, who frequently encounters back and neck pain issues in her studio, believes that good posture is crucial for reducing dysfunction at any age and improving breathing. She emphasizes the importance of precision and control in Pilates to avoid injury and achieve benefits like better posture and reduced pain.
Her two-move posture workout is designed to activate and strengthen key postural muscles via mat Pilates. The moves typically involve spinal alignment, gentle mobilization, and core engagement. While the exact moves from a specific two-move sequence are not explicitly detailed, her approach emphasizes strengthening the core and postural muscles to support the spine and reduce strain on the neck and back.
For those seeking the specific two Pilates moves for posture relief, Dadoun's Instagram reels and Pilates Prescription programs are the best resources to see live demonstrations. These resources offer step-by-step routines, including some 4-move posture workouts aimed at strengthening the core and balance.
These moves are beginner-friendly and adjustable. The first move warms up the spine with support from the arms, while the second move challenges the user further by adding the weight of the arms. With practice, these moves will build back strength, and for someone with a curved spine, a soft Pilates ball can be used under the chest during these exercises.
Dadoun notes that practicing these two moves can result in visible posture improvements. She considers these two moves her go-to anti-aging exercises and believes that they offer a powerful, accessible way to improve posture and feel better daily. Seeing clients reduce the number of head cushions over time is a great sign for Dadoun, indicating improved posture and reduced strain on the neck and back.
If one's diaphragm is limited due to poor posture, it can affect breathing, according to Dadoun. Therefore, improving posture through these exercises can also lead to better breathing. Dadoun emphasizes the importance of spine extension in her workouts and encourages everyone to give these moves a try to see if there is a noticeable difference.
- Rebecca Dadoun, a Pilates instructor, recommends a two-move workout that focuses on strengthening the core and postural muscles for better posture and less pain, as these moves also ease the spine and surrounding muscles into extension.
- By utilizing these two moves, individuals can experience visible posture improvements, which can in turn lead to better breathing and a reduced strain on the neck and back, particularly beneficial for those with a curved spine who can use a soft Pilates ball for support.
- The science behind Pilates workouts reveals that better posture and a strengthened core can help improve breathing, making them beneficial for health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, flexibility, and overall well-being.