Half of the mind-body connection ...
I’ve been doing mind-body work for so long I sometimes forget how great it is. While there is definitely something cathartic and calming about an all-out session at the gym or a sweat-dripping Spin class, the mind-body benefits of Pilates or yoga or even meditation are pretty amazing and resonate a bit differently than a body-only discipline.
Mind-Body for Stress Release
The main benefit of a mind-body workout is that you’re so focused on how your body is moving and feeling that you don’t have time to think of anything else, especially your to-do list. This kind of concentration leaves you feeling fully refreshed. Our minds are such busy worker bees with hundreds (thousands?) of thoughts flying through our brains every hour. To be able to turn all of that off and just be present in our bodies is an amazing way to recharge our minds. When you practice it regularly, the stress relief benefits are tremendous. Studies have shown yoga and meditation drop heart rates, improve concentration, increase productivity, and a whole bunch more of other positives.
Mind-Body for a Better Body
Most yoga and Pilates instructors have extensive certifications. Yoga teachers usually do 200 or 500-hour certifications (check when you go to a class) and most Pilates instructors are trained during a 500-hour certification too. This usually means that they know anatomy very well, are great at adapting exercises for all body types, and know when to push a little further and when to ease off and not go too far. This can help you heal creaky joints and greatly improve your physique.
Just one caveat here: some disciplines of yoga only teach the choreography of the movements and not anatomy. Check with your yoga instructor and ask them what type of training they’ve had and ask specifically about their anatomy background. It does make a huge difference in how they teach!
Mind-Body for Your Sex Life
If you have less stress and feel better about your body, you’re going to feel sexier, right? A survey done a few years back said regular Pilates practitioners had the best sex lives. We chuckled and agreed at my Pilates studio at the time. But hey, if you’re happy in your body then you’re going to have a better time no matter what you do, from taking a walk to spending time with your amour. Enjoy!
The Benefits of Pilates
I recently made a video that talked specifically about the benefits of Pilates and I wanted to share it with you below. Do you do mind-body work regularly? What type do you prefer? What would you like to try? I’d love to hear about what you’re doing.
Cheers,
Lisa
Twitter
Lisa, I couldn’t agree with you more! Most exercise regimes are great for getting your body back into shape, but there aren’t many like Yoga and Pilates that have your mind feeling as good as your body when you’re done!
This is a great piece Lisa! Education is key and I think we can all stand to learn a lot more about not just what to do, but why, so I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your approach to health and making people more aware of the mind-body connection. The more we understand, instead of just following blindly, the better choices we’ll be able to make for ourselves and our families for the long haul, in my opinion. I’ve been doing yoga for just a short time and can already tell a difference in my stress level, and honestly, my patience with my kids has improved, even on the craziest of days – and I can’t tell you how great that makes me feel! When I first started yoga a gal in class recommended David Mercier’s A Beautiful Medicine. He’s a big supporter of the mind-body connection and it really opened my eyes to how much I didn’t know, and I feel more in control than ever over how healthy I am. I’m somewhat new to this so I’d love to hear your thoughts Lisa! To check it out you can visit http://www.abeautifulmedicine.com. I can’t wait to see some of the other comments, I hope people realize how much you’re trying to help them!