In our previous article we took a look at the biological effects of Pilates. We'll continue from there, and now we'll take a new look at the psychological effects of Pilates.
- Deeper muscle activation leads to better functioning of the nervous system.
Every time we move, we use an area of the brain. The brain sends a message to the muscle fibres through the spinal cord (obviously this process is much more complicated than that, but we don't want to pretend we're doctors - that's enough to understand).
When we learn to „turn on” our muscles on command (like activating the core in Pilates), we can activate a chain in the body that has probably not been used for a long time. The trunk is not just the six cubes - there are exactly 29 muscles in it. By working all 29, we can cleanse our nervous system. Let's explain it with a simple example - when you turn on a tap that hasn't been used for years, the water will flow in a stagnant, slightly discoloured way at first, but the longer and more you use the tap, the better the water will flow (apologies to all our plumbing readers).
A healthy nervous system allows communication between the brain and the body and stimulates the release of happiness hormones.
- Pilates is a time to relax and unwind.
You can read a lot about the benefits of meditation. In summary, meditation:
- relieves tension and depression,
- helps treat insomnia,
- sharpens the brain,
- stimulates creative thinking,
- relieves stress,
- helps manage chronic pain,
- relieves negative feelings,
- helps you overcome addictions,
- reduces high blood pressure and improves heart health.
When we hear the word meditation, most of us imagine a Buddhist monk floating in a lotus position between heaven and earth. But that's not all meditation is - in fact, it's not meditation at all.
While meditation does indeed have its origins in Buddhist, Hindu and Chinese traditions, in modern psychology the emphasis is more on concentration than spirituality - quieting the mind, focusing attention and shutting out distractions.
Why talk about meditation when the topic of this article is Pilates?
During Pilates, there is only one thing you need to focus on - your body. Whether we want to or not, we have to block out all distractions from our minds, because only then can we do the exercises correctly.
With Pilates, you get all the benefits of meditation. Plus points for not sitting still and feeling like a huge waste of time.
- Pilates relieves tension in the body.
According to our body and brain, we have two options when we find ourselves in a stressful situation - we can fight or we can flee. It can be a real stressful situation (such as a near-crash) or an imagined stressful situation (such as public speaking). In these situations, our brain gives us a big boost of stress hormones to prepare us to fight or run.
This hormone boost used to be extremely useful, and we can still use it when we are in real danger. But let's be realistic - how often are we really in danger? The stress usually comes when we get stuck in traffic or when our boss makes another crazy request on a Friday, half an hour before the end of the working day. We can't run out of traffic and we certainly can't fight with the boss. What do we do about stress hormones? We suppress them.
This results in muscle spasms and pain.
The gentle stretches of Pilates break down built-up tension. And if our muscles aren't tense, our brains won't stress.
„A body free of all tension and fatigue, provided by nature, is the ideal home for a balanced mind that can successfully navigate the complexities of the modern lifestyle.” Joseph Pilates
For those who have enjoyed reading this and the previous article, we have good news - we are not even halfway through the benefits! In our next article, we'll look at four more benefits.