The Benefits of Incorporating Self-Care in Pilates
Self-care has quickly become one of the most important aspects of exercise and physical activity. With the Pilates method, it has become a fundamental part of the practice – how people must take charge of their own wellbeing, both emotionally and physically.
Pilates is an incredibly popular form of exercise that has proven to be highly effective in targeting the entire body, improving posture, flexibility and strength. It is used by health professionals for patients with chronic conditions, but just as beneficial for anyone looking to improve their physical health. The practice of Pilates is often explained to feel quite like a meditative state, but it is so much more than that.
By incorporating self-care into our Pilates practice, we can greatly enhance the overall benefits we experience. Self-care is more than just a “trend” in today’s society – it is a vital necessity for understanding how to fulfill our own potential and foster our sense of wellbeing. Here are some of the benefits of self-care in Pilates:
Improved Mind-Body Connection
Pilates naturally brings us into a state of both physical and mental relaxation. With the added aspect of self-care, Pilates can help us foster a stronger connection between our mind and our body. Our bodies are constantly sending us signals, and with self-care in our Pilates practice, we can better understand and pay attention to these signals.
Improved Confidence
Self-care has a lot to do with self-esteem and self-confidence. When we understand and respect our physical and emotional needs, we can start to understand our own potential. With this newfound confidence, we can begin to learn more organically and achieve greater results.
Reduced Stress and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety levels adverse effect the body – but with self-care in our Pilates practice, we can learn how to better take the attention off our worries and restore the balance. Self-care in Pilates works both ways – on the mental and physical levels – so that we can restore our physical health as well.
Deeper Understanding of Our Needs
Self-care in Pilates helps us better understand our physical and emotional needs and how to meet these needs in an effective way. Rather than going for extremes, self-care teaches us to work with our body and understand when to push ourselves and when to take rest.
Taking care of ourselves is paramount and by incorporating self-care into our Pilates practice, we can build a stronger awareness of our body and achieve our own fitness goals. With improved mind-body connections and a deeper understanding of our physical and emotional needs, we can go beyond the physical level and achieve more than just physical results.
The fundamentals of self-care in Pilates include:
Allowing yourself to have rest days, when your body needs it
Listening to your body’s signals and recognizing when to push yourself and when to back off
Gratitude for your own work and progress
Appreciating the small and incremental progress done
Being forgiving towards yourself and understanding that being perfect isn’t healthy
Remembering that exercise is a form of self-care, not a punishment
Not comparing yourself to others and understanding that everyone’s journey is unique
Keeping these fundamentals in mind, we can all improve our practice of Pilates, and ultimately, our overall wellbeing. The importance of self-care in Pilates cannot be underestimated – it not only helps us achieve our own physical goals, but can contribute to our overall wellbeing and feeling of vitality.
Whether we are just starting out our Pilates journey or are experienced practitioners, self-care should remain at the core of our practice. By being more attentive and mindful of our Pilates practice, we can prevent any injuries and better meet our own needs. When engaging in Pilates and exercise, we must always remember: it is a form of self-care and should be a primary motivation for our practice.
