November 1, 2022, by brzbs1

Fitness Class in Focus: Pilates

University of Nottingham Sport Membership gives members access to a wide range of weekly classes. These are held on-site across all of the 3 Sport Centres at David Ross Sports Village, Jubilee Sports Centre, and Sutton Bonington Sport Centre.

Pilates is a range of non-impact exercises designed to help develop strength, flexibility, balance, and inner awareness. Spending time at these classes can have a range of benefits, which can in turn aid your studies.

Here are just three of the helpful benefits:

1. Developing core strength.

Practicing Pilates often can help massively towards increasing core strength, by strengthening the deep muscles in your back, abdomen, and pelvic floor. By extension, you will also improve your posture greatly, as a tight core allows your body to feel supported whilst relaxing your neck and shoulders.

Taking part in a Pilates class after a long study session in the library will ease your back pain and get rid of your slumping shoulders. If you are already on campus, you are close by one of the three sport centres.

2. Increasing energy.

Like most exercise, you will leave a Pilates class feeling energised. In particular, Pilates encourages you to focus on your breath, as well as movement, which stimulates your muscles and increases your circulation. Unlike most exercise, Pilates is low-impact and can easily be incorporated into your day during one of the afternoon sessions following lectures. Alternatively, join a Pilates class on a late Sunday morning to destress from the previous week.

Increasing your energy will aid your studies, by helping you through a long day on campus. Take part in the Wednesday 16.00 class at David Ross to help beat the midweek slump!

3. Exercises your body and mind.

By using the principles of centering, concentration, control, precision, breath, and flow, you are working out your mind as well as your body! Improving on your ability to practise mindfulness and breathing technique, Pilates can reduce stress, anxiety, and improve your concentration. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and by practising such techniques in class, you will also be able to apply them outside of class.

Being able to reduce anxiety before an exam or enhance your concentration during lectures is a useful skill to have at university, but one that doesn’t come without practise. Being at university can be overwhelming, and it is hard to turn off. Exercise classes are a great way to step away from your screen, get your daily movement, and take some time for yourself.

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Be sure to have a look at the Pilates class timetable, to see which classes fit your schedule. Simply Log In and book the session which works best for you – https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/Sport/Bookings-and-Timetables/Classes/index.aspx

If you are living in halls this year, you may have the Sports Health and Wellbeing Package, and access to over 150 classes, including Pilates – https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/sport/membership/sport-health-and-wellbeing-package.aspx

If you don’t already have a University of Nottingham Sport Membership, visit the website to see just how many more classes you can access, and purchase yours now. There is also the option to attend a Pilates class through Pay as you Go, to see if you would be interested in buying a membership – https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/sport/membership/index.aspx

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