Pilates prepares for sporting field

(Manning River Times)

The days of having a quick stretch in preparation for a sporting endeavour are well and truly over.

Sporting men from across the Manning are discovering a new program that is helping them prepare their bodies for a range of sporting activities.

Taree's Elite Fitness is now offering a weekly pilates class for men only.

The course has been designed especially to meet the needs of men, particularly those preparing for the sporting arena.

Instructor Nerida Low has been thrilled with the response, and after only a few weeks the class is continuing to grow.

Regularly attending are footballers, rowers, body builders and power lifters, as well as men who just want to increase their fitness.

The men only class differs from regular pilates in that it removes the work on arms and legs, which most of the men involved work out while in the weight room.

Instead it focuses on core strengthening of abdominals, the back and plenty of stretching.

Nerida said many men are finding that this work is a valuable contribution to their training and assists them in their sport.

The Elite Fitness class is certainly the first of its kind in the region, and Nerida said it is the only men's class she has heard of anywhere.

The benefit of pilates though is becoming widely recognised and similar programs are being incorporated into training schedules in sporting institutions.

The class is open to men of all ages and positions in the class are still available.

The 45-minute class is becoming more popular than the women's version and the participants have been surprised at just how tough a workout they receive.

Not only has pilates proven to aid sporting performance, its value has been proven in rehabilitation for back injuries.

While the participants are currently individuals, Nerida said she would be keen to get some entire teams involved in the program.