The Cure For Homeworking Aches And Pains

Over the last decade many studies have highlighted the benefits of home working for individuals and society as a whole. The CIPD suggest individuals benefit from greater autonomy over their working day and a more flexible work-life balance whilst organisations benefit from greater productivity. Yet many of these studies were conducted when remote working was more of a choice rather than the necessity it has become for many of us today. As the number of people working from home has increased some research has also pointed out its downsides such as finding it difficult to ‘switch off’, working longer hours and taking fewer breaks. During the current coronavirus pandemic most of us working from home are not doing so in the most appropriate environment, we’re most likely sitting at our kitchen table hunched over a laptop rather than at an ergonomically designed work station.

We don’t yet know the long term effects of working in these conditions but you may already be experiencing aches and pains, particularly in your back and shoulders, that you perhaps didn’t have before. You may also be struggling to make time for yourself and separate from your working day, leaving you feeling more tired and sluggish than usual. Pilates is a great exercise method for those working from home for a whole host of reasons.

Re-energising your mind and body

After a long day with few breaks it can be really hard to motivate yourself to do any kind of physical activity. Pilates doesn’t require the kind of reserves of energy that a HIT session or a run might so it can feel a bit easier to find the motivation to get going. Every Pilates session will leave you feeling primed and energised, not exhausted, and a good instructor will make sure their clients are taxed to their working level and not beyond.

Strengthening your postural muscles

Pilates works to address imbalances in muscles throughout the body and can particularly help address issues related to posture and alignment. Sitting for long periods can lead to slouching which in turn can weaken the muscles that should be holding you up, over time this can lead to tightness and pain in and around joints that aren’t getting the support they need. Strengthening these muscles can help combat the weaknesses caused by long periods sitting at a desk.

Stretching is built in

Every Pilates exercise, whether on the mat or equipment, stretches a different area of your body. Several exercises such as Swan, Single and Double Leg kicks allow you to open and stretch the front of your chest and shoulders, the areas that are typically tight after a long day working at a desk.

You can do it at home

You don’t need any special equipment or gadgets to begin your own workout. All you really need for a mat workout is a thick mat or towels, that are comfortable to lie on, and the exercise instructions. Ideally these instructions would come from a real life instructor who can give you feedback on your technique throughout your workout, but there are other options. There are several reputable online video subscription services that provide great videos you can follow yourself such as Pilatesanytime or Pilatesology. Many teachers are also offering options for online training, being able to work out in this way gives you the flexibility to fit your workout around your schedule.

With a regular Pilates workout as part of your routine you could overcome the problems often associated with working from home. Welcome Pilates into your life and say goodbye to those aches and pains in your shoulders and back forever. Why not get in touch to book a session and find out for yourself, contact us.