Pilates

[July]

Does anyone do Pilates? Is it IC, PFD, and VV friendly?

[hopeful]

Im sorry i just laughed when i saw you ask about that because i just bought a dvd and tried doing it the other day and i was laughing so hard because it didnt even matter if it bothered my ic or not i could even do the stupid moves lol i was like yeah right what was i thinking it was so funny. I m currently walking at 30 min a day and i just tried a stationary bike for 30 too and neither seemed to be to bothersome and ive decided that this disease robs us of to many things in life and exercise wont be one of them for me my thinking is if we cant exercise and then our bodies get lazy and ran down from lack of then we open ourselves up for all kinds of diseases ya know so even if it upsets my bladder a little i think the exercise benefits outway the ic thing. but thats just me :) good luck with the workout hopefully your more flexible then me lol

[CarInder]

hi july,
yes, i do pilates. lots of it, and will be certified in rehabilitative pilates by next summer. depending on the severity of your ic and/or other physical conditions, pilates might work for you. i think it's definitely something to discuss with your doctor and/or pt. many ic patients have trouble engaging and using the muscles in their lower pelvic floor (think kegels), because it causes discomfort, and for many, severe flares. i think the best course of action would be to talk to your doctor, physical therapist, or medical professional you trust with your health, and get an opinion. if they think it's positive, start with a beginning mat class, so you can learn the basic movements and breathing as well as discuss with the teacher any issues with which you are concerned. a good teacher will aid you in learning about and modifying the stretches and postures, so they are beneficial to your body. it also might be helpful to ask whether the teacher has been trained in classical pilates, which is often much more form and breath based, rather than a rehabilitative pilates, which is geared to serve people with chronic physical ailments.
please feel free to private message me if you have an more questions.
carinder

[July]

Thank you for your informative response! I did not know there was classical pilates vs. rehabilitative (I take it that rehabilitative is the route to go for those of us with IC, PFD, VV, etc., correct?). I was always concerned that the concentration of Pilates on the core muscles would place undue stress on the pelvic area and that would be bad for IC. I purchased a CD for Pilates for scoliosis and for lower back strength, and would sure like to put them to use.

[CarInder]

good luck with the cds. some can be great and some can be awful since they assume you don't have certain problems, or aren't careful enough to point out contradictions. i would definitely consider taking a class before starting a video, so you can ask the teacher about your concerns. a rehab style pilates really focuses on proper form and engagement of pelvic muscles. it also allows for major modifications to certain movements for those with pain, etc... many studios (that are often associated with physical therapy clinics/offices) can aid you in creating a series of movements that help you gain strength as well as take into consideration your ic. you may also want to discuss using a theraball (big, round ball) with your doctor. they are really wonderful for gently stretching out the body, and many pt's and teachers regularly use them in classes. i have one that i sit on as a chair in my office, and it's worked wonders for my back.
have fun!
carinder