Mental Health Benefits of Pilates

It is no secret that practicing Pilates is very effective for physical health, helping to tone and strengthen muscles, lose weight, improve flexibility and posture. However, many people don’t consider the mental health benefits of Pilates exercises. A lot of research suggests that Pilates exercises have several mental health benefits. It is believed that mental and physical health went hand in hand, which is what makes Pilates an effective workout method.

Pilate emphasizes correct alignment, focus, breathing and helps strengthen the bond between the body and mind. Let’s look at some of the ways mental health can be beneficial to your overall wellness.

Boost Mindfulness

While yoga practice is mostly associated with boosting mindfulness, Pilates can also improve self-awareness. Studies show that integrating a regular Pilates into your routine can considerably improve your mental resilience and mindfulness. This can particularly be helpful if you are going through a tough time since mindfulness is known to improve the ability to overcome emotional, physical, and psychological challenges.

Improve Self Confidence

The physical changes made to your body as a result of your Pilates workout can have a significant impact on your self-esteem. It is not just the good look that improves your self-confidence, but also the feeling of accomplishment when you see that all your hard work pays off. Whether your goal is to tone and strengthen your muscle or lose weight, achieving each step of these goals will improve your self-confidence.

Encourages a Healthy Lifestyle

Attending Pilates classes promote a healthy practice you can integrate into your daily life. These could be a little adjustment like replacing your third coffee with herbal tea, consuming good, whole foods that nourish your body or prioritizing rest over drinks nights out. It is easy to reach for comfort food and another glass of wine when things are not going so well in your life, which can have a negative effect on your mental health. Pilates promotes healthy living, which is the key to improving your mental health.

Improving Memory and Brain Training

When performing an exercise, your body may be working while your brain is not as active. This may reduce exercise benefits and increase the risk of injury. Pilates requires you to use both your mind and body simultaneously. When you learn a new practice, your body challenges your brain to learn a new skill and keep your mind always engaged. In addition, Pilates exercise supply blood to your brain, which makes you think more clearly.

Reduces Stress

Pilate is widely used as a means to help reduce and cope with stress. Pilate exercise has been shown to reduce stress hormones such as cortisol and boost endorphins (chemicals produced by the body to relieve stress), giving your mood a natural boost. Plus, Pilates may also increase your ability to respond to and manage stress, thus improving your stress resilience.

How Can We Help?

If you’d like to be happier and stronger, make sure to contact Movement 101, our experienced Pilates instructors are here for you!

Learn more about how we can help you.
Movement 101 Botany, Marrickville, Waterloo & Wolli Creek