It’s true. A regular practice of Pilates can help you manage your stress and anxiety. Pilates has the power to calm and soothe our nerves. Why?
EMPHASIS ON BREATHING
The corner stone of Pilates is breath work. Joseph Pilates is famous for saying, “Breathing is the first act of life and the last. Our very life depends on it.” In Pilates we primarily focus on what is referred to as intercostal breathing. In other words, breathing into the sides and back of the rib cage. This particular breath work allows us to focus on activating deep core muscles that will allow us to build strength, stability, flexibility, and mobility in our spine. Breathing in a conscious manner also helps us calm our mind, lower our blood pressure, and improve our posture ultimately helping us feel less stressed and anxious.
POSTURAL WORK
Have you ever noticed that when you are feeling overly stressed or anxious our whole body tends to slump as we close in on ourselves? We may start to notice stiffness in our neck, shoulders, or low back. Our chest may feel tight and our breath shallow.
Pilates helps us do the opposite of that! A mindful practice of Pilates helps us open up our chest, create movement and glide in our shoulder girdle, and strengthen our core, hips, and legs. When we finish a Pilates workout we walk out feeling open, energized and uplifted, ready to face the world!
FOCUS
You probably would agree with me that so much of the stress we experience today is caused by overexposure to information at all times of the day. We are constantly being bombarded by social media and news outlets via our devices. This never ending stream of information often leaves us feeling exhausted and overwhelmed.
In order to practice Pilates, you will need to use your whole focus. You will need to concentrate to feel your body from the inside out, so that you can notice everything from the soles of your feet, to the backs of your shoulders, to the crown of your head. The concentration created when combining breath word and focus allows us to disconnect from the chaos of life for a moment. It’s like a literal life (parenthesis) where for that brief instant we have to put all other concerns out of our minds, so that we can fully engage in our workout.
WE CAN HELP!
We know these are stressful times. We want to serve you and help you experience the benefits of a regular practice of Pilates in your life. We currently offer a limited amount of outdoor sessions at our studio. We can also see you in your private residence as long as the session can take place outdoors. And we offer all of our session types virtually live via our Zoom platform. Contact us at veronica@vero-pilates.com to schedule a free phone consultation to discuss program options for you. We’d love to speak with you!