According to the Villanova article, as the NFL season heats up, more and more athletes are discovering the benefits of taking a Pilates class. Among them, Houston Texans linebacker Will Anderson Jr. and Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter have publicly shared how this low-impact training method has positively impacted their game. Both tennis prodigies attribute their success to daily Pilates workouts. This commitment has increased their fluidity and improved their ability to dominate in a sport that demands remarkable physical attributes and quickness.
Pilates is specifically meant to include those core strengthening exercises that promote proper posture, development of flexibility and range of motion, and controlled movement patterns. He frequently uses a training style that incorporates reformers with spring resistance rather than free weights. This sustainable and innovative approach is what differentiates athletes in their training. Among the favorite Pilates exercises is the single-leg squat on the reformer. This exercise not only conditions your groins, but it lengthens your abductors at the same time.
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter has been doing Pilates since 2018. Since then, he has racked up an astounding 88 sacks and credits much of his success to the discipline. “It’s not going to be perfect. We’re humans. So we just got to figure out a way out of it, beat the awkward position and make it to the ball to make the tackle,” he stated.
Azeez Al-Shaair was pilates on looks to for improved flexibility and form on field. This brings attention to the increasing trend of defensive players throughout the league hitting up Pilates studios. The Houston Texans’ fierce front seven has racked up a league-leading 46 sacks…all while incorporating Pilates into their training regimen.
Jared’s seen the benefits of Pilates go beyond himself as well—most of his teammates have taken up Pilates, too. He said the defense’s focus on it, in part, led to fellow player Young’s breakout performance in Year 3. “I’m being dead serious. He’s been so intentional with it,” Verse remarked. He further elaborated on the positive feedback from Young regarding how Pilates has improved his overall well-being: “He feels more flexible. He feels more fluid. He feels more confident in his body.”
Anderson shared the ways in which Pilates has directly improved his performance. Even that one play demonstrates the core strength, as he explained, recalling other instances on the field where his training has converted into impactful plays. He concluded, “I guess I made the turn. Instead of going down low, I went back up high.” Pilates has definitely helped a lot, helping to open up these muscles, and just being able to turn the corner.
The unique nature of Pilates—putting the body in positions that may feel unnatural—has proven beneficial for athletes like Hunter and Anderson. It’s the very controlled movements that develop stability and strength, helping to create her best performance when it matters most on the field. Ashley Bartlett, a Pilates instructor, emphasizes that this approach is particularly effective for defensive linemen because they require control over their lower body positions.
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