You might think that Pilates is all about matching activewear and #fitmums on social media, but this is the unfortunate image that has been portrayed. However, if you take away all the noise and influencers, what really is Pilates and how could it benefit you?
If you've ever searched for Pilates online, you might have encountered an old black and white photo of a man demonstrating impressive poses while wearing what appears to be an adult diaper. This man is Joseph Pilates, the creator of the Pilates method. Originally from Germany, Joseph had a keen interest in movement and studied various self-improvement systems. During World War I, while living in England, he was forced into internment and it was during this time that he devised a series of floor exercises now recognized as Pilates mat work. While serving as a nurse for internees, Joseph improvised by using items like straps and springs, attaching them to hospital beds to help patients regain muscle strength during their recovery from wartime ailments. This innovation eventually led to the creation of the reformer bed, a widely used piece of Pilates equipment today. The history of Pilates, it turns out, has very little to do with #fitmums and matching activewear!
Okay, so what does this mean for me, you might be thinking. Well, Joseph Pilates believed that poor health came from poor posture, lack of exercise, and shallow breathing. His method was all about healing the mind and body through correct movement. Movement was never meant to be about what you looked like in a bikini or how many likes you got on Instagram! Too often, the motivation to exercise is to look good, lose weight, and maybe one day become one of those #fitmums. Many of my clients will ask me if they will lose weight by doing Pilates? Unfortunately, the truth is unless you can commit to 2 hours of exercise a day and never eat chocolate or drink wine again, then you probably won't look like Jennifer Lopez anytime soon. However, yes, Pilates will help you to lose weight in more ways than one.
This incredible form of exercise will not only help you to build strength, flexibility, improve posture, and prevent injury, but it will also improve your mental well-being by enhancing body awareness, energy, breathing, while also alleviating chronic pain. Group Pilates also offers you the opportunity to socialize, which has been proven to increase the happy hormones in your brain. If we feel better mentally, it's well known that this helps us make better choices in life, such as eating healthier, exercising more, and just taking better care of ourselves. Instead of watching 3 hours of Netflix, you might choose to go for a walk; instead of eating a dozen donuts, you may choose to only indulge in an apple instead. You might choose to go to bed earlier, drink more water, and maybe start to put your mental health first. Pilates has an amazing way of making you feel happier, healthier, and more comfortable within your body, which is a much better motivation for exercise, don't you think? If you took more notice of how you felt after each exercise class rather than worrying about how you looked, you might be more content with the outcome instead of being disappointed that you don't look like a fitness model after 2 months of Pilates. The bottom line is 2 classes of Pilates a week will not change your physical appearance on its own; however, it may change your life in a much deeper and holistic way by changing the way we feel about ourselves. When we feel good about ourselves, then we can also change the way we see ourselves in the reflection of the mirror and maybe even start to appreciate the body we are in. At the end of the day, don't you just want to feel good and be healthy? If we go back to what Joseph said, "The mind, when housed within a healthful body, possesses a glorious sense of power," then we can focus on all of the wonderful benefits Pilates has to offer and ask, why wouldn't you do Pilates?
Keely Majhen
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