Hello! Today we want to talk to you about a topic that is near and dear to our hearts: the mind-body connection. As we get older, it can become more challenging to maintain a strong connection between our physical and mental selves, and that's where Pilates comes in.
Pilates is a form of exercise that emphasises the mind-body connection, encouraging you to focus on your breath, movements, and muscle engagement. By doing so, you can improve your overall well-being, reduce stress, and even enhance your physical performance.
So how exactly does Pilates help with the mind-body connection? Well, for one, it requires you to be present and mindful during your practice. You can't simply go through the motions and expect to see results. Instead, you must focus on engaging your muscles, controlling your movements, and coordinating your breath with your movements.
This type of mindfulness can have a profound impact on your mental state, helping to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. In fact, research has shown that Pilates can be an effective form of complementary therapy for those with mental health conditions.
A treat to do at home, daily:
Here's an exercise you can do daily at home to make you aware of your mind body connection and that leaves you feeling fantastic, the standing roll down:
Stand with your feet hip-width apart and your arms relaxed by your sides.
Take a deep breath in, and as you exhale, begin to slowly lower your chin to your chest and start to round your spine forward, vertebra by vertebra.
Keep your knees slightly bent as you continue to roll down through your spine, reaching your hands towards the floor, as far down as you feel comfortable. Feel the muscles in your legs and back stretching and releasing.
Once you reach your limit, take a deep breath in, and as you exhale, begin to roll back up through your spine, stacking each vertebra on top of the other.
Continue to roll up until you reach a standing position with your arms relaxed by your sides. Notice how good it feels to pause and add a little bit of controlled movement to your day.
If you have low blood pressure, or sometimes get dizzy, do this exercise next to a wall or chair for support.
Pilates can help improve your focus and concentration. The exercises require you to pay attention to your body, which can help train your brain to be more focused and present in other areas of your life.
And let's not forget about the physical benefits of Pilates. By improving your mind-body connection during regular Pilates exercises, you can also enhance your physical performance. This will come in the form of improved balance, strength and flexibility. You'll reduce your risk of injury, and even improve your posture.
Body aching for more?
If you aren’t getting the progress that you were hoping for or the relief that you need, maybe osteopathy can assist. Why not see if one of our highly skilled, empathetic osteopaths can help you as you recover from your injury. Or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with all our wellness tips.
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