Pilates And Mindfulness: Building A Strong Mind body Connection In Your Workouts
The deep rooted links between pilates movement principles and mindful awareness
Mindfulness means keeping your full, non judgemental attention focused on your present moment experience, rather than letting your mind wander to past worries or future to do list tasks. From its very beginning, the Pilates method was built around this mind body connection. Joseph Pilates originally named his system “Contrology”, a word that reflected his core belief that your mind should be in complete, conscious control over every single movement your body makes. In modern day fast paced fitness culture, this mindful element is very often forgotten.
Practical ways to bring more mindfulness into every single one of your pilates sessions
Many people treat their pilates sessions like a checklist workout, rushing through movements while mentally planning their grocery shopping or next work meeting. When you lose your mental focus, you miss out on a huge part of pilates’ wellness value. To add greater mindfulness to your training, before each exercise pause for one deep breath, set your full attention on the muscle group you are about to activate, and notice every small physical sensation as you move. If your mind drifts away, simply and gently bring your awareness back to your breathing and body movement. Over time, mindful pilates practice will train you to carry this present moment awareness into your everyday life.
