Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness.

Football, at all levels, causes lasting damage to athletes’ bodies, which may disable them for the rest of their lives. While concussions have become well known in football, the damage to the rest of the football player’s body has largely remained a secret,” states orthopedic surgeon Benjamin Dom. That damage often comes in the form of joint injuries, specifically to the hips and back, that make it harder for athletes to function throughout their careers and after their days of competition are over, leaving their physical distress to serve as a bitter daily reminder of their glory days. However, with Pilates as a staple in their training regimens, athletes greatly increase their chances of remembering their time on the field with pleasure, minus the pain.

NBA All Star Lebron James performing Stomach Massage on the Pilates Reformer to work the core and stabilize the spine.

Not only does Pilates develop flexibility and mindfulness, it also promotes symmetry in the body, which improves balance and makes it less likely for athletes to incur injuries. Muscle imbalances, which are common, force unnatural compensation and throw off the body’s proprioception, increasing the likelihood of muscle tears, pulls, and strains. As a result, athletes get and stay hurt longer, often aggravating the same injuries over and over again. Pilates is a brilliant solution to improving functional mobility, which increases range of motion in the shoulders, hips, abdominals, and buttocks, all of which serve as the backbone of athletes’ performances on the field.