DO T HE BASICS RIGHT
Words: Laura Potter. Photographs: iStock
There’s plenty of half-hearted advice based on the idea that ‘stretching before bed’ can ease you into effortless slumber, but we prefer cold, hard evidence. And two recent studies have shown that Pilates really can make a difference. The first saw postpartum women – who we know can suffer major sleep problems – doing a home-based, 30-minute Pilates routine five times a week. After eight weeks they showed significant improvement in sleep quality, time taken to drop off and daytime sleepiness as well as their Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score, a sevencategory measure of sleep quality. The other was among elderly people, significant because sleep quality declines with age. They performed twiceweekly 30-minute Pilates sessions for 12 weeks and saw improvements in both sleep and quality of life.
‘This routine will release tension in your neck, shoulders, back and hips, will free the spine, promote flexibility, and aid relaxation,’ says Pilates instructor Lucy Potucek. ‘Practise at least three times a week, or nightly if you enjoy it.’
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May-19
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