Pilates: Movement meditation.

Meditation has been credited for its powerful effect on the body and mind. Studies have shown a significant correlation between regular meditation practice and decreased anxiety and depression, as well as improvement in memory, concentration and brain function. 

The unfortunate problem that many of us face is the time/effort to sit down at some point in our busy life to spend meditating... This is where Pilates can help! 

Consider Pilates as a “movement” meditation. By giving our conscious minds something to think about, we're making it easier to let other thoughts drift on by. This focus on movement also allows our subconscious mind to process information. On a deep level, engaging in intentional, focused physical activity promotes connection with our physical intelligence 

The concept of physical intelligence is something we must consider: it helps us react to unpredicted extrinsic factors. It is this intelligence that tells our muscles around an injured joint to compensate to protect from further injury/pain, or prevent us from falling and injuring ourselves. This is often something we take for granted until our body experiences an injury or takes up a movement practice that requires intention, such as Pilates.

By listening to your physical intelligence, you are practicing a form of meditation, and Pilates embodies complete recognition of intention of movement. Joseph Pilates took into account the body's natural movement pattern and physical intelligence when designing his various exercises. When we partake in our Pilates practice, we are reinforcing our natural movement patterns so we can continue moving efficiently for longer.

The general benefit of using movement as a gateway to traditional meditation is best described as multitasking both the body and mind, something Pilates exemplifies. This all but guarantees that we’re focused on the exercises at hand rather than our day to day lives!

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