'Side-effects' of Pilates - mental fitness
Another positive 'Side-effect' of Pilates - mental fitness
When questioned about the benefits of doing regular Pilates classes, several of my participants mentioned improved mental well-being. Although mental well-being is not a direct focus of my classes, I believe that blocking out an hour in our busy days can really help. By gently moving our body we often notice a reduction in the stress and overwhelm caused by our busy modern lives, which is often felt in our muscles.
We commonly find ourselves living in a state of chronic low-grade stress for much of the time. The stress response evolved to keep us safe from imminent threat to our survival, and as such is still a vital mechanism. It is meant to be a short-lasting state that returns to baseline once the immediate threat to life has passed. In our modern life this might be felt when we see a bus heading towards us when we're in the middle of the road or hearing a strange sound just as we're falling asleep, or perhaps when being woken from deep sleep by our alarm clock. However, stress has too often become something that is brought on by everyday experiences, such as a bursting email inbox, never-ending to-do lists, or a tricky situation with a work colleague. When we're in a state of chronic low-grade stress, it can be difficult to think logically, or to respond calmly to our day-to-day events, or to our loved ones.
Our stress levels typically reduce after physical exercise. One theory for this is that, because the stress response stimulates us for fight or flight, we become primed for action. We're expecting some form of movement, thus much advice on stress management includes an element of enjoyable physical activity.
One of my participants mentioned how, after a busy stressful time at work, an hour of Pilates would just allow their mental well-being to reset. Another mentioned that, with lots going on in their personal life, within 20 minutes of gentle movement and tuning into their body, they felt much calmer and more able to cope with the situation when they left the class. They felt that this gave them a brief but important respite from the difficult times that they've been going through.
We know from science that any muscle contraction can release certain beneficial feel-good chemicals into our bloodstream. I personally love to run in nature and swim outdoors in a lake, which helps me to let go of some of the stress and overwhelm that builds up in my body through day-to-day life. I also believe we can feel better through doing gentle movement and stretches.
The positive effects can be boosted by moving in synchrony with others, coined 'collective effervescence' by Daniel Lieberman in his book 'Exercised - The Science of Physical Activity, Rest and Health'. Although we usually move at our own pace in the class, we often find ourselves moving in time with each other!
By focussing on our own body, our breath, and our movement we can give our mind a little bit of breathing space. A chance to experience our mind and body as one whole and incredible system.
One participant also mentioned that they particularly like exercising in person, as opposed to online, because it holds them to account and makes it much more likely that they'll show up and do the class. So, if you're looking for a sense of accountability and the opportunity to give your mind and body an hour of respite from your busy daily life, feel free to drop me an email and book your place in a regular weekly gentle Pilates class in Hook. Check out all my class details here.