Did you know that 1 in 2 Australian adults are not sufficiently active? This is largely due to sedentary lifestyles, increased dependence on technology, and competing demands on time. Australian guidelines recommend at least 30 minutes of exercise each day which can be as simple as getting your body moving with your daily chores, or even combining several shorter sessions throughout the day to reach the daily target. But why is exercise especially Pilates, beneficial for mental health?
Regular Pilates classes are not only a great form of exercise, but it can be a great time to interact socially and make friends with other regular Pilates class ‘goers’ who attend the same sessions as you.
This social interaction coupled with exercise helps to change the level of chemicals such as Serotonin, Dopamine, Endorphins and Norepinephrine in the brain. These increased chemicals:
- boost self-esteem and a sense of well being
- reduce negative thoughts
- relieve stress
- calm fear and anxiety
- enhance mindfulness; and
- can help an individual begin the process to create a self-care routine.
Many Pilates enthusiasts would agree that they are grateful to have Reformer Pilates near me so that they can experience these mental benefits.
One of the key principles of Pilates is breathing and controlling the way in which you breathe. Controlled breath is important to reduce heart strain, purify the blood and develop the lungs. “Breathing is the first act of life and the last” (Return to Life Through Contrology, Joseph Pilates, 1945).
We often underestimate the unconscious act of breathing. Through Pilates, you can direct your focus to the process of breathing allowing cells to grow and repair, providing increased blood flow and nerve connections to the brain. This change in the cells, blood flow and improved nerve connections helps to energise the body and contributes to the following the benefits of one’s mental health:
- Improves brain function
- Improves physical strength, flexibility, endurance and other bodily attributes and functions
- Helps people feel more comfortable and happier in their own skin, which is important for body image and self-esteem
- Allows for better sleeping patterns
Overall, Pilates as a method of exercise found by attending Pilates classes Narellan, Pilates classes Camden or Pilates classes Campbelltown. Who would’ve thought just partaking in your Reformer Pilates near me, could leave you feeling better both physically and mentally.
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