How Pilates Improves Your Mental Health
The most beneficial gift I’ve received from my Pilates practice is the improvement of my depression, anxiety and ability to cope in life. Most clients come to Pilates looking to lose weight, for abs, to strengthen the core, in relation to an injury or not. The benefits we end up receiving from Pilates are all of that, and so much more!
Intentional Breathwork + Coping Skills
Breath is one of the most powerful tools in calming the mind and is utilized in a wide range of physical and mental health practices. Breathing is one of the foundations of Pilates and an essential component in all Pilates exercises. Every Pilates exercise involves a particular breathing pattern which improves the effectiveness of the exercise, helps to supply oxygen to the muscles, and prevents you from holding your breath. Pilates directs your focus inward for the duration of the session, focusing on the present, feeling the muscles work and reconnecting with your body.
Our emotions and breathing are closely connected. Studies have shown different breathing patterns evoke certain emotions. You can breathe yourself into calmness or anxiety. Learning to control your breath is one of the biggest benefits of Pilates. The mindfulness and techniques that you learn in a Pilates session can also be used in different life situations to calm your mind or get through a stressful situation.
Learn to Love Yourself
Pilates teaches us to respect our body and be happy with it. Pilates practice is focused on working within your range of motion and building up your strength and flexibility gradually. Our progress is not propelled by comparing ourselves to someone else, but rather by setting our personal standards and priorities that are meaningful to us. When we learn to respect our bodies this way, we also learn to do the same with everything else in our lives. We start living more confidently and according to our priorities and values.
Train Your Brain
When performing routine exercise such as running on a treadmill, the body may be working but the brain is not actively engaged. This may lead to increased risk of injury and reduced exercise benefits. Pilates requires you to connect both your body and mind simultaneously. Learning new activities is a proven brain-training technique. When we learn a new exercise or modification, it challenges the brain to learn a new skill, keeping the mind engaged at all times. No two Pilates flows are the same! Adding Pilates to your life provides the right challenge for your mind and body.
Improved Nervous System
The brain sends impulses through the spinal cord to muscle fibers when we engage specific areas of our brain. When you learn to voluntarily engage certain muscles (like deep core muscles in Pilates) you fire a movement chain that you might not be used to using regularly. Learning to use these muscles can be cleansing for your nervous system. A healthy nervous system means better communication between your brain and other parts of your body.
Over time we store our emotions and anxieties in our body. We clench our jaws, slouch, and tighten our hips to suppress emotions. Practicing Pilates lets you release your muscles and gain control of the deep core muscles that tend to be closely connected to your emotional challenges.
Meditative Benefits
Practicing Pilates lets you concentrate your attention on your body only. Whether you want it or not, you have to clear your mind of any distractions if you are working on the reformer or visualizing the muscles intended to engage in that exercise. Pilates lets you reap all the benefits of meditation in a different way than traditional meditation.
Reduced Depression + Anxiety
Studies have shown exercise should be routinely included as an essential component in recovery from mental illness. When our body is positively stressed, like when you go through your favorite workout, endorphins are released into the body that make us feel good. Pilates may assist in reducing depression and anxiety by offering an opportunity to socialize, changing the levels of chemicals in the brain, providing a distraction from negative thoughts, releasing stress, enhancing mindfulness and helping to contribute to a healthy self-care routine.
To begin your Pilates journey today, schedule a private, semi-private or group Pilates session at Trio Pilates Studio in Bridgewater, MA. Booking is available on the Trio Pilates Studio website. Reach out to info@trio-studios.com for more information or to schedule.
Sources
Pilates Bridge, Anastasiya. (2014) “12 Scientifically Proven Benefits of Pilates for Your Peace of Mind.” [online] Available at: https://pilatesbridge.com/12-scientifically-proven-benefits-of-pilates-for-your-peace-of-mind/ [Accessed 8 Jan. 2023]
Pilates Studio. (2018) “How Pilates Benefits Your Mental Health.” [online] Available at: https://www.studiopilates.com/education/pilates-benefits-mental-health/ [Accessed 8 Jan. 2023]
