September 2005 www.healthspectrum.co.ukN E HEALTH7<strong>The</strong> <strong>power</strong><strong>of</strong> <strong>Pilates</strong><strong>EXERCISE</strong>PILATESWHAT IT CAN DOFOR YOU● Strengthens back● Longer, leaner, <strong>to</strong>nedmuscles● Improved f<strong>it</strong>ness andflexibil<strong>it</strong>y● Improved andstrengthened pelvicfloor● Improved control <strong>of</strong>bladder and bowel● Improved recovery rateafter giving birth● Improved wellbeing/alleviation<strong>of</strong>depression● Improved coordination● Creates balance andnatural poiseNOT many men are as familiar w<strong>it</strong>hpelvic floor exercises as RussellTurner. <strong>The</strong> pelvic floor, usually ab<strong>it</strong> <strong>of</strong> a mystery <strong>to</strong> men, is one <strong>of</strong> theb<strong>it</strong>s midwives tend <strong>to</strong> concern themselvesw<strong>it</strong>h after a birth. It’s also a part <strong>of</strong> thebody that tends <strong>to</strong> give way w<strong>it</strong>h age, leading <strong>to</strong>embarrassing “leaks” that have nothing <strong>to</strong> dow<strong>it</strong>h the government and newspapers.But <strong>it</strong>’s Russell’s job, <strong>to</strong>o, <strong>to</strong> concern himselfw<strong>it</strong>h the pelvic floor. And but<strong>to</strong>cks. And pubicbones… and all sorts <strong>of</strong> other b<strong>it</strong>s that usuallyget ignored in public.Russell teaches <strong>Pilates</strong>, which systematicallyexercises all the muscle groups in the body w<strong>it</strong>hthe aim <strong>of</strong> increasing “core” strength. It’s beenaround for more than 70 years, but has becomehugely popular over the past decade, partly becausecelebr<strong>it</strong>yville has taken <strong>to</strong> <strong>it</strong> w<strong>it</strong>h suchgus<strong>to</strong>. Madonna is a fan, and Jennifer Anis<strong>to</strong>n,and Gwynnie, who used <strong>it</strong> <strong>to</strong> help her get backin<strong>to</strong> shape after the birth <strong>of</strong> l<strong>it</strong>tle Apple.Now, in sports halls and gyms around thecountry, <strong>it</strong>’s available <strong>to</strong> the rest <strong>of</strong> us <strong>to</strong>o. “<strong>The</strong>reis no age barrier,” says Russell, who lives in Oakenshaw,near Crook. “People <strong>of</strong> all ages can do<strong>it</strong>, standing up, s<strong>it</strong>ting or lying down. I have onelady <strong>of</strong> 80 who comes, who’s a great horse rider,and she says <strong>it</strong>’s fantastic for increased muscle<strong>power</strong>.”Russell, now 46, has been in the f<strong>it</strong>ness gamefor a long time. He started <strong>of</strong>f as a butcher, butwhen his father had a heart attack at the age <strong>of</strong>44, <strong>it</strong> shocked Russell in<strong>to</strong> a change <strong>of</strong> career.He moved in<strong>to</strong> f<strong>it</strong>ness and ended up as manager<strong>of</strong> Teesdale Sports Centre. His move <strong>to</strong> personaltraining and <strong>Pilates</strong> came after a nasty car accidentand back operations. “Specialists <strong>to</strong>ld me Ihad long term spine degeneration,” says Russell.“<strong>The</strong>y said I should have another operation butI was really scared and desperate <strong>to</strong> avoid <strong>it</strong>.”Determined <strong>to</strong> create a strong body for himself,Russell tried yoga, then t’ai chi, and finallyfound the answer in <strong>Pilates</strong>. It was the perfectcure for Russell’s injury as <strong>it</strong> helps strengthenthe core muscles which support the spine.Calling <strong>to</strong> mind the old song which points outhow all our bones are connected <strong>to</strong> each other,<strong>Pilates</strong> takes an holistic approach <strong>to</strong> the body.Thus, if one muscle is slack, the bones will notbe supported, posture will suffer and other parts<strong>of</strong> the body will gradually suffer <strong>to</strong>o.“If the body is out <strong>of</strong> alignment, you are notusing certain muscles. <strong>The</strong>y become shorter andweaker and that affects the next b<strong>it</strong>,” saysRussell.Some <strong>of</strong> the problems are occupational – hairdressersand people who use computers, for example,are <strong>of</strong>ten kyphotic (hunched over).“Or if people have a hollow back, you knowtheir pelvis is tilted wrong way, so that hip flexorexercises are going <strong>to</strong> be <strong>to</strong>ugh, the abdominalsand but<strong>to</strong>ck muscles will be weak andthey’ll have a lack <strong>of</strong> lumbar stabil<strong>it</strong>y,” says Russell.“I can tell by looking at someone which exercisesthey will have difficulty w<strong>it</strong>h. That’s whyI walk round the class suggesting alternatives…everyone’s bodies are different, some can do oneexercise, others can do another.”<strong>The</strong>re’s no upper age lim<strong>it</strong> in Russell’s classes– “the older generation is healthier than many16-year-olds <strong>to</strong>day,” he says. He teaches morewomen than men, but thinks that’s probably becausewomen are more aware <strong>of</strong> wanting <strong>to</strong> lookgood and that sporty men tend <strong>to</strong> grav<strong>it</strong>ate <strong>to</strong>wardsteam games, but everyone is welcome.Strength, suppleness, good posture and musclestrength are the main aims, but there is alsoevidence that doing <strong>Pilates</strong> before and duringpregnancy can lead <strong>to</strong> an easier birth and Russellwould like <strong>to</strong> work <strong>to</strong>gether w<strong>it</strong>h the healthservice <strong>of</strong>fering classes for pregnant women. “Ihave midwives and doc<strong>to</strong>rs who come <strong>to</strong> myclasses and they think <strong>it</strong> would be a great idea,”he says.He is hugely enthusiastic and keen <strong>to</strong> encouragepeople <strong>to</strong> look after their bodies. “That’swhere gyms <strong>of</strong>ten fall down in comparison w<strong>it</strong>hexercise classes, because once you’ve joined andthey’ve taken the money, they aren’t bothered. Iwant <strong>to</strong> motivate people, <strong>to</strong> help them <strong>to</strong> improvethemselves. I enjoy working w<strong>it</strong>h people and <strong>it</strong>’svery rewarding when they come up and say ‘myshoulder was killing me, now <strong>it</strong>’s fantastic’, orwhen a member informs me that she hasdropped two dress sizes.”<strong>Pilates</strong> is also an excellent exercise for thosewho find <strong>it</strong> difficult <strong>to</strong> sw<strong>it</strong>ch <strong>of</strong>f at the end <strong>of</strong> theday. “Because you have <strong>to</strong> think about the moves,<strong>it</strong> takes your mind <strong>of</strong>f the stresses and worries<strong>of</strong> daily life,” says Russell, who <strong>of</strong>ten includes arelaxation period at the end <strong>of</strong> a class.“I’ve got all sorts <strong>of</strong> qualifications and done allsorts <strong>of</strong> training and classes over the 17 yearsI’ve been working in f<strong>it</strong>ness, but if I had <strong>to</strong> chooseone exercise regime, <strong>it</strong> would have <strong>to</strong> be <strong>Pilates</strong>.<strong>The</strong> fact is, after the accident, that if <strong>it</strong> hadn’tbeen for <strong>Pilates</strong>, I wouldn’t be able <strong>to</strong> teach anythingphysical at all.”● Russell runs classes in Barnard Castle,Crook, Whorl<strong>to</strong>n, Stain<strong>to</strong>n, Hamsterley andStanhope. For more information contact(07951) 782657Instruc<strong>to</strong>r Russell Turner:cred<strong>it</strong>s <strong>Pilates</strong> w<strong>it</strong>h making<strong>it</strong> possible for him <strong>to</strong> workPicture: STUART BOULTONIt was the injuries he sustained in a nasty car accidentthat led personal trainer Russell Turner <strong>to</strong> take up<strong>Pilates</strong>. 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