Pilates, Sports Training, and the Pleasures of Being a Dad by Ed Botha

Besides the emotions attached to fatherhood, it can a highly physical task. Playtime with my daughter is not to be taken lightly. She is a busy girl who is constantly on the move and seems to share my love for water, movement and most importantly food. Before Jessica came along, my training and participation in sport was purely selfish. I would run faster, lift heavier, roll harder (JiuJitsu) and surf for longer than was possibly good for my body, but my daughter has given me a new perspective on health and fitness. No longer do I feel the need to push my body to its absolute limit, but rather, I train with the intention to prolong my life and preserve my body. I long to be surfing, skateboarding, riding bikes and kitesurfing with my daughter well into my later life.

Pilates has played a major role in this shift in perspective. I have always done Pilates regularly to supplement my training, but more recently, the practice has become the foundation for everything that I do. Before a long surf session, I make sure to do a quick Pilates Mat Work routine. I feel privileged to own a workout that I can take on the road with me where ever I go. Whether it be the beach, a hotel room or even an empty space in an airport lounge, time and time again, Pilates has literally saved my butt.

Recently I had a bit of an injury scare, tearing my meniscus and damaging a tendon in my knee. This was a particularly frustrating injury because, besides the fact that I couldn’t participate in all of my hobbies that I love so much, simple pleasures like sitting on the floor to do puzzles with my daughter or racing her on the beach, became impossible. Added to this frustration was the fact that the injury occurred just a couple of months before a planned surf trip (and first ‘official’ family holiday). I was racing against the clock to heal well enough to surf again.

Luckily for me, I had the very tools necessary to facilitate the recovery in record time with Pilates. Even the Physical Therapist, who recommended Pilates for rehabilitation, couldn’t believe the speed at which I regained my strength and was able to get back on the surfboard and catch some waves. I never imagined that within two months of injuring my leg I would be running on the beach with my daughter and surfing again. It is a fascinating time in the world of Pilates — seeing how far Pilates has come in the athletic world and especially how accepted it has become among the male community.

We are constantly reminded of the benefits of Pilates in performance as we are bombarded with images and videos of NFL, NBA, MBL and professional surfers on social media going through Pilates routines. I am proud as a man to be part of this growth. I feel like we are part of a revolution that will bring health and a better quality of life to a world of injured and sedentary people. I would be satisfied with just being a healthy dad who can spend precious active time with my girls.

Ed Botha is a member of BASI Pilates Faculty in Manly, Australia. Register for his next class here.