Chi Ingledew
Feb 26, 20212 min
Updated: Jan 31, 2022
Movement is all the things we do in the process of experiencing life. BASI (Body Arts and Science International) Pilates requires you to recruit both your body and mind simultaneously when moving through exercise. The mind is forced to concentrate and be present. There is a balance of strength and flexibility from head/mind to toe.
Here are our top 10 reasons why Pilates is good for your mental health...
There is a mediative, relaxing, and calming quality in Pilates movement. A big focus is on breathe between and in each movement recruited. Breathing helps calm down a busy mind. We can breathe anxiety into calmness.
Pilates releases emotional tension which may affect mental and physical health. We learn how to take charge of our emotions.
There is improved concentration within the Pilates class and outside of the class. The mind is centered allowing for thoughts to flow easier. By practicing each exercise with total attention, you train your body and mind to work together. A deeper mindful muscle activation means a better function of the nervous system. With time, this focus, concentration and muscle activation become second nature and permeate everything you do.
There is a release of endorphins (the happy hormone). Endorphins reduce perceptions of pain and increase feelings of pleasure. This makes you feel good about yourself.
There is a release in stress tension in the body when doing Pilates. When we are stressed, we have stress hormones that settle in our body causing hypertension, muscle spasms, and pain. Pilates helps release this tension through movement.
Pilates is mindful movement that allows for more self-awareness and confidence - it makes you look and feel like your best you. Pilates teaches you to be yourself. Good posture and proper alignment allow for a more confident mind and body.
Pilates movement increases heart rate and blood flow to the brain. Oxygen is then increased allowing for better brain function and memory. This also helps with improving sleep quality and results in more energy.
Pilates encourages a healthy lifestyle. The mind-body connection is self-care and love. This connection gives one greater awareness of how to carry this care into our everyday lives.
An open flexible mind lets us experience life fully. Through a different environment, new thought processes, different shapes, movements, combinations of sequences, apparatus, and the ability to stretch and strengthen the physical body there is a good environment for creativity.
The whole mind, body, and spirit are addressed. We feel centered, aligned, and true to the source of who we are.
From improving endurance, flexibility, strength, to losing centimetres there’s no shortage of physical achievements that come about from doing Pilates. When incorporating the mindful component to BASI Pilates, which is what makes the work so incredibly powerful, all of a sudden the results are multiple.