*NEW CLIENT SPECIAL* $65 Private Session* Schedule Here.
If you have ever frequented a gym or fitness center of any kind you have probably seen the cylindrical piece of foam in use or hiding out in the corner at the ready! It is favored by many different types of movement practitioners and has been around since the 1920’s. It’s a must have piece of Pilates Equipment at Pilates by Ness because its benefits are tenfold.
The Foam Roller was originally created by Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, founder of the Feldenkrais Method. Feldenkrais was a Ukrainian-Israeli engineer and physicist and his method has changed millions of lives around the world. His method teaches mindful and gentle movements to help increase awareness of all aspects of life. At Pilates by Ness, we hold body awareness as one of our top priorities in our teaching practices.
The original Foam Roller was made from the thick cardboard that was used to wrap carpets in Israel! In the late ’80s a student of Feldenkrais suggested using foam instead, that sounds a bit more comfortable than cardboard! Since the beginning of its creation, the design is very basic but has many different sizes and variants of firmness. The classic roller is around 36 inches and would comfortably support the spine length of most clients who use it. You will also find miniature Foam Rollers which are easier to travel with and help target specific areas of the body. The firmness of the rollers varies from super soft and flexible to extra firm and some are known to have raised bumps on them for extra massaging capabilities. In our studio, we often incorporate the tool during exercises to challenge stability and sometimes in combination with other pieces of equipment. We also use it for its most commonly known benefit, self-massage! Our clients have a true love/hate relationship with this exciting tool!
There is no better time to talk to you about Fascia! Every single person on this planet has fascia all over the inside of their bodies. It is the connective tissue that makes up the soft tissue and helps hold our organs, bones, blood vessels, nerve fibers, and muscles into place! Sounds important, doesn’t it? Well...IT IS! Your fascia is almost as sensitive as your skin and when it undergoes stress it tends to tighten up. Have you ever felt knots in your back or shoulders? That is likely stressed fascia build-up! It can also be aggravated by overuse, injury, or by repetitive daily motions. Enter, the Foam Roller and its amazing benefits for helping release fascia. When you foam roll, you are circulating healthy, oxygenated blood to help heal the fascia. Happy fascia means a happy body. Fascial release from the Foam Roller can also help alleviate aches and pains, muscle soreness and increase flexibility, range of motion, and help you recover quicker from your workouts!
Another way we incorporate this tool into our workouts is by adding an element of instability whether you're laying on it, standing on it, or in conjunction with the various equipment. It is the perfect way to train fine motor skills and help ground you.
How do you roll you might be wondering? It is really quite simple, the more time you spend on it, the easier rolling will become. It is also an incredibly affordable tool to keep at home to practice Pilates all week long. There may be a few instances of discomfort, some wobbles, and some very humbling moments along the way but we promise you will feel the benefits in no time at all. Schedule your Private Session today to see what areas of the body you can improve with this technique!
