Wellness is perhaps an overused term, but simply through concentrating on your breathing Pilates can help generate a sense of wellbeing as you forget about the worries of work and daily life. Joseph Pilates wrote in his book Return To Life Through Contrology, “above all learn how to breathe correctly.” Many people take breathing for granted. But as we take roughly 20,000 plus breaths a day it’s certainly something worth concentrating on. For Joseph Pilates, who as a child had asthma, breathing would have been particularly important. 

Deep Controlled Breathing

Pilates breathing can seem complicated at first but basically involves inhaling through the nose and drawing your breath in to expand your ribcage and engage your abdominal muscles. The idea is that the lungs have as much room to expand as possible. You exhale through the mouth with pursed lips, to slow your exhalation. You will focus on taking in and exhaling as much air as possible. Deep controlled breathing can generate a sense of mindfulness and reduce stress. It will help strengthen the spine and activate your core muscles.

With Pilates you might find yourself thinking about your posture as you sit at your desk or on a tube train, helping to get yourself out of both a bodily and mental slump. It will help to improve your balance and posture, correct any body alignment problems and boost strength and flexibility. All these factors will help the user feel a sense of wellness and confidence through making controlled movements.

Sense of Calmness

Pilates moves go slowly with both the lifting and lowering phase of each exercise that in itself can generate a sense of calmness compared to more high-intensity exercises. It is about control not speed. Joseph Pilates said that his exercises were, “a complete combination of body, mind and spirit.” Pilates users can receive a mental boost through focusing on the body and the moment, concentrating on which muscles are moving and where.

Our bodies will of course change as we get older but the great advantage of Pilates is that you can keep doing it throughout your life. It can improve bone density and strengthen core muscles, thus preventing back and neck problems. The Reformer can be adjusted to work around any injuries and it can be modified around the user. Pilates is low impact and resistance can be adjusted.

Expert Teachers

Studios can provide specialist equipment such as the Reformer, Cadillac and Wunda chair, and help from empathetic and expert teachers. Friendships and companionship with other users will also help with mental wellbeing. You can also continue your studio work at home with mat Pilates. Breathing exercises, stretching exercises and posture awareness can take the lessons of the studio and apply them at home or just when walking in the street.

Joseph Pilates said that, “physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness.” Ultimately Pilates is about more than just an exercise class. It can hopefully create both a healthy and balanced body with a calm and stress-free mind.

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The Pilates Central Team