Balanced aging: considerations of a physical activity program for the elderly based on the Pilates method

Abstract

Aging appears as one of the few certainties of life. This inevitable process of life presents morphological, biochemical, psychological and functional transformations responsible for the impairment of human suit – increasingly – the environment in which they live. One possible way to slow this process consists in the practice of physical activity. This paper aims to present the actions of the first year, 2012-2013, the Extension Project “Pilates and Elderly: Contributions to the body balance”, an initiative of the College of Physical Education, of the Federal University of Vale do São Francisco-UNIVASF. The project involved the participation of 70 city residents of Petrolina (in the state of Pernambuco), aged between 60-80 years.