Stress is no fun, but it is also completely unavoidable. Work, family,finances…there are many stressors in our daily life. Right now many people are gearing up for the school year, which adds a new level of stress – so what can you do? It’s important to find a healthy way to deal with stress, and the effect it has on your body. For us, Pilates is the ultimate stress-solution, and we bet if you give it a try, you’ll agree.
Movement is a known way to reduce the negative impact of stress. In fact, it can even help people recover from and prevent depression, as has been proved in many studies. And the good thing is that even moderate exercise will do the trick, so you don’t have to work out like an elite athlete. Since Pilates is versatile enough to accommodate people of all ages and abilities, it is the perfect outlet for stress!
When doing Pilates you focus on your movement, your breathing, and your technique. This frees you from thinking about your worries for a time and provides a healthy mental escape. By taking the spotlight off your concerns, you are often able to gain a bit of distance and perspective. So not only does it lift your mood, it might just help you shift the way you see the problems in your life.
Pilates continually offers you challenges to overcome as you work to better your technique, breathing, balance, and stamina. As you practice you’ll start to see improvements to how you feel but also in your comfort level while performing movements. This can offer a great sense of accomplishment and pride, which can balance out the stress in your life.
The best thing about Pilates for stress relief is that it works for everyone. You don’t have to work out hard, spend hours in the studio, or be a pro in order to get the benefits. So the next time you feel stress sneaking up on you, grab your mat, head to class, and just let it all go!
