Pilates: mind and body

2014-09-15 MeAtopGalteesI love pilates for so many different reasons.

Initially, I was drawn in by the sheer physicality of doing pilates movements. I don’t mean that that it was physically very challenging or very hard (… pilates has a reputation for being ‘hard’ but it need not be when done safely and with awareness of the guiding principles… ), no, what drew in me was that I found the classic mat pilates repetoire made me intensely aware of my muscles and bones as no other movement discipline had before. It was very physical for me.

It’s a given that if you do pilates regularly and as suits your body, you will become stronger, increase your flexibility and improve your posture. Many of my regular clients attest to these benefits. These are the physical benefits.

But the more I engaged with the physicality of pilates, the more I have also tuned into the mindfulness of it. I know ‘mindfulness’ is a buzzword these days, but this is so for good reason. Mindfulness is simply a great tool for dealing with the stressful things that inevitably happen and thus it’s a great tool for improving the quality of one’s life.

Mindfulness is stopping and noticing this exact moment in time, right now in your body, noticing your breath, accepting what is. You don’t have to empty your mind of thoughts to be mindful. You notice your thoughts pass by, but you don’t have to follow them. You can choose to redirect your attention to the here and now, the present moment – to your breath, your feet, maybe to the sounds around you or to your posture for instance.

You can train yourself to become mindful and thus empower yourself to be master of your thoughts. It’s a great liberation to be in charge of your thoughts!

As a result of my own journey, my pilates classes are naturally evolving from not just teaching clients how to apply the five physical principles of Joseph Pilates so that they move their bodies with integrity, but also to sharing ways of being mindful and finding quietness in the present moment.

Mindfulness means things like not waiting for life to be perfect – your life is happening right now. It means doing your best in every moment – your best is good enough. It means appreciating what you have and doing what makes your heart sing; life is too short to worry about what others do or think of you!

New term of mindful movement through pilates starts next week. I’m looking forward to it! Some spaces still in some classes – so please get in touch ASAP to book!