Should I stretch tight hamstrings? This is an interesting question and the first thing we need to talk about is – what are tight hamstrings?

Your hamstrings are made up of three muscles at the back of your legs – semimembranosus – attaches from the pelvis to the inside of the knee; semitendinosus – attaches from the pelvis to the inside of the knee; and biceps femoris – attaches from the base of the pelvis and the outside of the knee.

This is a question we get asked all the time in the studio. Back pain can range from very mild to debilitating and can be caused by a number of issues to do with the hamstrings, glutes, feet, knees, back muscles, hip flexors and postural imbalances. There may also be spinal conditions such as scoliosis, Scheuermann’s disease, compressed nerves and arthritis as well as injuries caused by an accident or sporting related. While some of these conditions won’t necessarily go away, a regular Pilates practice can help manage the symptoms through strength and mobility work.

For some people Pilates is their only choice of exercise. Reasons for this are many and varied but usually have to do with the customisability of the method and other forms of movement not being the appropriate choice. One of the many great things about Pilates is that it is an excellent choice to compliment sport and exercise.

Stress and anxiety is an inevitable part of life and chances are you are among the 13.1% of Australians who have experienced it at some point. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2017/18 3.2 million Australians aged between 15 and 64 had anxiety related conditions with a higher rate in females than men. The Australian Psychological Society found that 1 in 3 Australians experience symptoms of stress short or long term. The physical, social, financial and emotional impacts of stress and anxiety are many and as a Pilates instructor, I see what happens to the body from prolonged periods of stress.

Almost every Australian will experience some form of musculoskeletal pain at some point in their lives. But for some, it is a chronic debilitating illness that is a daily reality for months and years affecting their ability to live a normal life and impacting on mental and emotional health and wellbeing.