If your go-to exercise involves lacing your sneakers and pounding the pavement, your body may be craving cross-training. Running improves cardiovascular health, may reduce stress, and builds strong legs, yet switch up your running routine with Pilates and see what happens. 

Does Pilates complement running? Is running and Pilates a good combo? In this blog post, we’ll dive into the answers to those questions and show you how to combine running with Pilates to maximize your benefits. 

Does Pilates Compliment Running?

Pilates complements running as an excellent form of cross-training, either on a rest day from running or as a pre-run warm-up. A fundamental principle of Pilates is breathing. While Pilates’ breathing technique may differ in how you use the breath when running, Pilates will undoubtedly bring heightened awareness to your breathing. 

During Pilates, you’ll learn lateral breathing, which allows you to maintain lower core engagement while breathing deep simultaneously. Practicing lateral breathing during Pilates may help with increased oxygen flow while running. 

Running long distances is strenuous and repetitive, requiring high energy levels.  Regular Pilates won’t detract from your running; it helps build core muscles and flexibility as a low-impact exercise. You’ll likely find Pilates supports your body for a more enjoyable run.

Is Running and Pilates a Good Combo?

Running and Pilates are a winning combo for overall health and fitness. Running provides cardiovascular exercise for the heart, encourages time in nature when done outdoors, and can help you maintain a healthy weight. Pilates is a low-impact, muscle-building exercise that supports healthy posture, builds core strength, and improves mobility and flexibility. All of these benefits from Pilates may reduce your chance of injury from running. 

How to Combine Running and Pilates

Pilates can support your running routine either as a pre-run warm-up or as a low-impact form of cross-training on a rest day from running.  Pilates as a warm-up trumps static stretching because it involves multiple body areas and helps rev up the heart and circulatory system.

While there are numerous Pilates mat exercises, the following benefits a runner brand new to Pilates or someone more experienced.

• The Hundred – warms the body, brings awareness to your breaths, engages your core muscles, and warms the upper and lower body.  
• Spine Stretch Forward and Saw – open your hamstrings and spine using forward flexion and spinal rotation. 
• Swimming – done lying prone, engages your back extensors, improves posture, and warms your upper and lower extremities. 
• Side Leg Series –  gently open your hip flexors and warm up the legs and glutes.

These Pilates mat exercises can be done in about 15 minutes and provide a well-rounded warm-up before your run. 

Practicing Pilates on your off day is another way to combine running and Pilates. Taking Pilates classes at your local studio will ensure you get the most out of your Pilates practice. Working with a skilled Pilates instructor can help you improve your posture and alignment, improve your running, bring awareness to imbalances in your gait, and help prevent injuries. 
ProHealth Physical Therapy and Pilates studio is the best in Fayette County, Georgia. The studio is fully equipped and offers a full schedule of Pilates mat classes, reformer classes, circuit classes, and private or semi-private sessions. If you’re ready to take your running to the next level, visit the studio online or in person in Peachtree City, Georgia.