It is well known that physical exercise has a positive effect on mental health but that doesn’t mean you have to go for a sweaty gym session, a 5km run or a HIIT workout.
Over the last 18 months, I have really appreciated the benefits Pilates has brought to my mental health. These benefits have always been there but I don’t think I have ever fully appreciated what they meant. Having had our freedoms curtailed, the uncertainty of life and activities, the inability to plan events and activities beyond the home or with friends and family has created a certain level of anxiety amongst many of us. For me, Pilates has helped bring about a sense of calm and well being at the end of each of my sessions.
So why is that?
There are 6 main tenets to the principles of pilates: Breathe, core activation (centering), flow, control, precision and concentration. Without these, Pilates exercises are just exercises with no purpose. In doing pilates correctly ideally in a class based environment, the mind is fully concentrating on the correct manner in which to do each move, thinking about each muscle movement, stretch or contraction, using the breath to get the most out of each move, keeping in perfect position, thoughts fixed on the particular muscles working at each given point. There is no time for the mind to wander to that “to do list”, no opportunity for one to worry about what you said or did or didn’t do the other afternoon; typical human traits. It is just you and the Pilates Mat free of the constraints we set on ourselves in modern life. Pilates demands FOCUS when we are focused our minds are empty of everything else. It’s a bit like emptying the trash can on your email to enable a smoother and more improved performance.
Try it in one of my classes I can guarantee you will feel mentally recharged after just one session.
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