Losing spiral??

Question

a few weeks ago i started doing pilates and since then i cant get my body as low as i used to in my spirals. the height of my leg hasnt changed tho... its just my torso thats the issue.

do you think i should stop doing pilates? also what are some good stretches i could do to improve my spirals? especially lower back..

thanx :)

Answer 1

You are probably sore from working your body harder from starting pilates. I would suggest giving your body some time to catch up and go ahead and keep stretching your legs as usual. Good luck!

Answer 2

Pilates is supposed to be good for skating (as it is for dancing).  If you've only started recently, you're seeing the effects on your muscles! Muscles are so complex . . . when you add new tasks to give your muscles a new workout, it changes the old ones as well.  Have you ever practiced something new in skating only to have an old move go down hill for a bit?  Sort of the same concept - your body is adjusting for now.  Perhaps you are finding that your tummy muscles are strengthening to be able to hold itself up much easier now.  

I say continue with it and as long as you continue to work on your spiral, it should "come back" as your body adjusts.  However, I would say if you are competing soon, now is not the time to start to a new regiment, especially if you are finding that it affects other parts of your skating.  

This helped me the most in getting my spirals stronger.  It's very much like the resistance exercise you do when someone holds your leg up when you stretch into a spiral position - only you do this by yourself.  Find a couch arm or table at your hip width (+/-) and put your leg on it as if you were doing a spiral . . and press DOWN.  You can hold onto a chair to help hold you up initially, but you don't want to rely on it. Gradually graduate to higher pieces of furniture . . . I did the kitchen counter, then atop the piano, and ultimately I did the splits on the doorway.  In anycase, you press DOWN into whatever your leg is on . . . just make sure you're hip is turned out and you're not putting too much pressure on your knee (flexing your foot helps with that - it's ok to flex for this exercise).

It might also help to do spirals on the floor - for balance and trying to get your upper torso lower.  I think spirals are easier on the ice because you're moving, so balancing on the floor may be a fun challenge. Do different arm positions for the heck of it -  like putting both hands in behind you or arms stretched out in front.  You don't have to worry about falling hard  :)

Just my 2 cents.  Hope it works out!

Answer 3

You can't get your body as low? Or you leg higher?

Pilates is helpful but I recommend getting someone to teach you, or doing it very carefully.

For example: If you do some positions wrong it doesn't benefit you, so be sure you have correct body alignment.

It could also be your flexibility. You say it isn't the problem, but flexibility applies to more than just your legs. Carefully work your way to backbends. I'd honestly recommend a little bit of yoga for the back. Just take it slowly, backs are definitely not made to be bent back all the time.

Spirals are more than stretch, they are strength. I always practice making a nice position then holding it for a little while. The easier it is and the more often you di it, the more automatic it is when you go to the ice.

Great basic spiral position:

- Straight leg

- At least 1 foot above hip level

- Turned out leg

- Pointed toe

It's basically a ballet arabesque.

Answer 4

If you think it;s the pilates, I would suggest yoga.

Yoga works alot with the core (torso), but also focuses alot on flexibility.

Since I've been doing yoga, I have noticed a huge improvement in my flexbility in all aspects of my skating!

=)