Texoma Living Well Magazine Fall 2015 | Page 21

Pilates and Yoga: Not just for Ballerinas and Hippies “W Courtesy Strong and Stable A division of Texoma Orthopedic and Spine eak or tight back or abdominal muscles cannot support your back properly, leading to pain and injury risk. Work with a spine specialist to find exercises that stretch and strengthen back and abdominal muscles, such as yoga and Pilates,” says a recent video series from the North American Spine Society. Hmmm, if one of the country’s premier medical associations recognizes that a strong core is essential to spine health, and that yoga and Pilates are good methods to achieve a strong core, maybe there is something more to it. So, what is meant by “core muscles”? According to Mayo Clinic, the core muscles are the muscles around your low back, abdomen, hips and pelvis and training those muscles leads to better balance and stability. A recent statement from Mayo’s website tells us: “Strong core muscles make it easier to do everything from swinging a golf club to getting a glass from the top shelf or bending down to tie your shoes. Weak core mus