TREAT YOUR BONES LIKE A SUPERANNUATION ACCOUNT

By Lisa Jackson, Principal Instructor, Core Pilates Brisbane

In recent months, I’ve travelled to Perth and Sydney to deliver the Buff Bones® teacher training program to two separate groups of enthusiastic Pilates Instructors. Soon, I’ll be doing the same in Brisbane (August 27-28) and Singapore (October).

For me, the most rewarding aspect of teaching this amazing program, is seeing the reactions of my students. Not only do they enjoy the program, but they quickly understand the ‘big picture’ value Buff Bones has to offer clients of all ages and fitness levels. I’ve had countless students tell me, “I’m giving this work to all my clients…I can’t think of anybody who wouldn’t benefit from this”. My thoughts exactly!

The Buff Bones program is safe and recommended for anyone with low bone density or osteoporosis…but this does NOT mean Buff Bones classes should be limited to people with these conditions, or those over a ‘certain age’. Building and maintaining strong bones, and understanding the importance of good posture, is critical to optimal health…no matter what your age! If you’re looking to counteract the effects of sitting all day, driving for long periods of time or you just want to maintain good bone health, then Buff Bones® is perfect for you.

Why is it important to keep our bones strong?

Our bones are living tissue. Not only do our bones support our structure and protect our organs, they act as a storage site for vital minerals like phosphorous, magnesium, fluoride and of course…calcium.

Calcium is important for overall health. Almost every cell in our body will use calcium in some way, from our nervous system to our muscles and heart. The body will call on the bones when it requires calcium to stay healthy; if your bones don’t hold enough calcium to fulfil these needs, you may be at risk of osteoporosis. This, of course, can have a devastating impact on your overall health and way of life.

That’s why I encourage you to treat your bones like a superannuation account! If you don’t put anything away in your younger years, it will have a huge impact on how you spend your retirement. The key is to start saving as early as possible!

Building a good framework should start in your childhood and continue through your teens, particularly puberty, and into your 20s. Believe it or not, bone remodelling slows right down by our mid 30s; this is when we should be building up as much strength in our bones as possible.

It’s all about quality of life – suffering fractures and ailments that relate to poor posture is NOT how we should be spending our later years!

So how can we strengthen bone?

Bone will respond to external forces placed upon it, particularly when working against gravity when standing. Bone also responds to resistance, such as using weights that give extra load to the pull on muscles, and to impact; things like skipping or jumping will promote regeneration.

We must remember that if we’re not supporting our own body weight we’re not loading our bones. Cycling and swimming are wonderful for cardiovascular and general health, but won’t load your bones.

Why Buff Bones?

Buff Bones is a medically-endorsed system of movement for bone and joint health. It uses Pilates, functional movement, strength training, and therapeutic exercise with bone-strengthening and balance techniques.

Everybody can benefit from Buff Bones classes. So, no matter what your age, now is a great time to get started!

Ask about Buff Bones classes at Core Pilates Brisbane next time you’re in the studio, or email us at [email protected]