“Breathing is the first act of life, and the last.”
Joseph Pilates wrote this in his classic work, ‘Return to Life Through Contrology’. Breath control is just one of many benefits Pilates has to offer. Pilates is often linked to amazing physical benefits – which are all true, but let’s hone in on the mental benefits. In this blog, we will shine a light on how Pilates can relieve stress, improve focus, increase energy, and help improve your mental health.
Source of Stress Relief
We are faced with stressful situations daily. Whether that be a deadline within our jobs, arguments with family or friends or becoming overwhelmed with absolutely anything! It can be difficult to find a form of exercise that will actually help decrease stress within the body.
Take high intensity workouts for instance – they are designed to get your heart rate up and put strain on the body. While they are very effective, if you’re already stressed out they can place the body and mind under more stress.
Pilates is a gentle yet effective way to move your body in times of stress. The slower based movements mixed with controlled breath helps to calm the central nervous system while still strengthening and stabilising the body.
Your breath is the key aspect here. Our breathing can speed up or slow down the heart and put the body into fight or flight mode. The simple act of taking full, deep breaths can slow the heart rate and activating the parasympathetic nervous system.
In Pilates, the breath is attached to a certain part of the movement to help the body create optimal efficiency. Breath control is designed to eventually become muscle memory which will then translate over to our everyday activities. Pilates teaches this correct breath pattern without you being fully aware at the time, but you’ll notice that you feel calmer and more relaxed after an hour of correct breathing.
Improves Concentration
Pilates is a full body experience. There are a million different things to think about during the exercises which requires a huge amount of concentration. With this being said, the general focus of Pilates is obtaining efficiency. Efficiency of breath, control, movement, and endurance are the ultimate goal.
The more you practice Pilates, the better you will get at learning how much effort to apply to each movement. The ability to hone in on what you’re supposed to be feeling is a valuable skill that you can take into everyday situations. It allows our body and mind to stay attentive on the task at hand without letting outside distractions take over.
Boosts Energy
We have all heard of the happy endorphins that exercise provides us. But how are Pilates endorphins different? Pilates requires a deeper level of concentration and mind-body connection as the intent is to work on the deep muscles of the body and to help stabilise joints.
Often, this more concentrated thought pattern taps into the nervous system, and you discover parts of your body that you may not have noticed prior to Pilates. This can give us a sense of ‘knowing ourselves better’ or even a feeling of compassion towards ourselves that we may not have experienced before. In return, we feel more connected with ourselves and can discover what our bodies actually need, which in return, gives us a different kind of positive energy.
Improved Mental and Social Health
A huge part of our mental health relies on the interaction with other people – something we have been missing and craving over the past couple of years. There is something special about knowing that someone else is having the exact same experience as you, making you feel less alone.
During a Pilates class, everyone will be doing the exact same movement (unless there is a modified movement for a specific reason). Knowing that the other people in the class are feeling exactly what you’re feeling is incredibly comforting.
It’s also comforting to know that the instructor is either performing the movements with you or talking you through every step of the way. They are guiding you physically and emotionally during the entirety of the class and are there to support you. Pilates classes give us the emotional connection to the people around us that is sometimes hard to find elsewhere.
The beauty of Pilates is you can tailor the movements to what your body and mind need that day. If you’re sick or lacking in energy, you can revert back to the more basic movements focusing on breath and mobility. If you’re feeling energised, you can create a more intense workout focusing more on strength or endurance. Not only does this movement tailoring benefit the body, but the mind too!
We all wish that magic was real, but to be honest, I think it does exist – it’s called Pilates!
What else is Pilates good for? Click here to find out more.
Click here to read our blog on the importance of Pilates Breathing and how it can enhance your workout.
