March 15, 2024
This installment of Wellness and Pilates thoughts, begins with Integration. You can catch up on any posts you might have missed here.
Integration
This is all about bringing together mind, body, and spirit for overall well-being. Pilates is big on this, specifically the coordination of movements, engaging various muscle groups simultaneously to enhance strength, flexibility, and control, making sure all your muscles are working together like a well-oiled machine. Integration is also a key principle in the Real Pilates Teacher Training Program. Pilates is a system, so we are always looking to see the integration of one exercise to another or from one piece of apparatus to another. Off the mat, it’s about the alignment of physical health with mental and emotional balance.
Ideals
Pilates encourages individuals to strive towards their ideals of physical fitness and well-being. Forget what everyone else is doing. Pilates is about chasing your own fitness dreams. Whether it’s getting stronger, more flexible, or just feeling better in your skin, it’s all about you, so pursue your own unique ideals of health and fitness honoring the body you have today.
Instructors
Your Pilates instructors love what they do and want to share the miracles of this method with you. Let them instruct! The major difference between Classical Pilates and other methods is form corrections and focus on alignment. So slow down, don’t rush ahead and let your instructor teach you without anticipation. Each day we are teaching the body that is in front of us, and every time someone comes to the studio that body is different. We never achieve perfection in Pilates and the instructor’s role is to ensure you are always improving. Pilates improves many things including core strength, posture, flexibility, stamina, and stability. These improvements contribute to better movement patterns, overall well-being, confidence, and wellness.
Injuries and Inflammation
Pilates is second to none for injury rehabilitation. See this post about how Mo used Pilates in order to be able to continue moving despite a broken heel that prohibited weight bearing. Pay attention to your body’s signals and modify exercises as needed to prevent injuries and keep yourself in the game. Pilates is the off-season choice for so many pro-athletes because it is great at preventing injuries and promoting long-term wellness. Pilates reduces inflammation through gentle movement and mindful breathing techniques, promoting overall wellness and longevity. It’s a one-two punch to get back in the game!
Integrative
Our health and wellness coaching takes an integrative approach to wellness. We work on a holistic wellness routine for overall health and vitality focusing beyond diet and exercise addressing the person and body as a whole. We consider the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual components of health and wellbeing. Pilates takes a similarly integrative approach of addressing imbalances to improve the body. You will never just work on one thing in Pilates – the entire body gets touched in every session. It’s like the way integrative medicine attempts to uncover the root cause of disease rather than masking or treating symptoms. If you are interested in booking a complimentary heath coaching consultation, let us know!
Inclusivity
Pilates is for everybody, regardless of age, shape, size, or ability. We pride ourselves on having a welcoming space where everyone feels valued and supported.
Immunity
Keep your immune system in tip-top shape with Pilates and other wellness practices. Rumor has it that not even one of the 8,000 prisoners Joseph Pilates trained succumbed to the Influenza pandemic that killed millions in 1918. You can read more about that here. A Pilates body houses a strong immune system, so keep moving, eat well, and get plenty of rest for overall wellness and vitality.
Infrared Sauna
Ever tried one of these bad boys? They’re like regular saunas but with a twist. Instead of just heating the air around you, infrared saunas use light waves to penetrate your body, giving you a detoxifying, relaxing, pain-relieving experience while promoting cellular repair and rejuvenation. Including regular sessions into your wellness routine can enhance overall health and vitality. Our friends at Boost Health and Wellness would like to offer you a free day pass to check it out.
Involvement
Active involvement is key to reaping the benefits of any Pilates or other wellness practice. Whether it’s attending classes, practicing at home, engaging in mindfulness exercises, or involving friends, family or colleagues, consistent participation is essential for progress and growth. By immersing yourself fully in the process, you cultivate a deeper connection with your body and mind, resulting in a profound transformation from within. Involving others improves sense of community, accountability, and shared wellness goals. You got to be in it to win it, so show up to class, practice at home, and adopt the lifestyle.
I AM
These are the 2 most powerful words in the world and Pilates encourages you to cultivate a sense of self-awareness and self-empowerment. By beginning with “I am,” absolutely any words can follow, creating a positive mindset that drives personal growth and transformation. Through mindful movement and introspection, you can tap into your inner strength and resilience, realizing your capacity for greatness. Pilates is as much about mindset as it is about movement. Believe in yourself and watch the magic happen.
Intentions
Setting intentions is a powerful practice in everything you do, guiding you towards desired outcomes. Whether it’s improving flexibility, relieving stress or cultivating mindfulness, clarifying your intentions helps focus your energy and attention, leading to more meaningful and fulfilling experiences on and off the mat. What are you trying to achieve? Whether it’s perfecting the tricky snake and twist or or just finding some inner peace while you hang from the fuzzies, setting intentions helps you stay focused and get it done.
Intentionality
Mindful intentionality permeates every aspect of a strong Pilates practice. From the precision of movement (especially transitions) to the quality of breath, intentional awareness heightens the effectiveness and impact of each exercise. Pay attention to what you’re doing and why you’re doing it—your body will thank you.
Ice
Ice therapy, or cryotherapy, is a popular recovery and injury management technique in the realm of fitness and wellness. By applying cold therapy to the body, either through ice packs, cold baths, or cryo-chambers, individuals can reduce inflammation, ease pain, and speed up muscle recovery after a tough workout. Integrating ice therapy into your wellness routine can enhance physical performance and promote overall well-being. Our friends at Boost offer all these services and more and would love to welcome you with a free day pass (available at the studio). Ice, ice baby.
Isometric
Isometric exercises play a significant role in Pilates, focusing on static muscle contractions without joint movement. These exercises help improve strength, stability, and endurance, targeting specific muscle groups and enhancing overall body alignment. By incorporating isometric movements into your Pilates practice, you can build a strong foundation for functional movement and injury prevention. These exercises are all about building strength without moving a muscle. Think of it as holding a pose and feeling the burn. It is the prep point of many exercises. For example, just lifting the knees up in Knee Stretches Knees Off. Without the pushing in and out the move is isometric. It’s all good for you.
Phew! That’s quite a list! From integration to injuries, each topic adds an interesting twist to your journey towards feeling fantastic. Join us every few weeks or so, as we dive into Pilates and wellness topics to bring you a little closer to your best self. True wellness is mind, body, and spirit, and I would love to be your wellness concierge and Pilates instructor.
