Pilates playtime.

When was the last time you played and had fun doing it? Many of us remember having fun as a child, but as we transition into adulthood, often the only playfulness we partake in is through drinking and partying. Or maybe we feel we just aren’t fun anymore. Pain also tends to creep up on us as we age, but Pilates and other forms of movement provide the perfect opportunity to embrace “playtime” and reap the benefits of active play. 

Daryl Edwards, the author of “Primal Play” states that active play provides our bodies with well-deserved stress and anxiety reduction, a healthier mind, better problem-solving skills and increased productivity.

Having fun or enjoying your workouts can feel almost impossible when you’re experiencing pain, but an easy way to tap into our inner child is to observe children through movement! Children love to play hide and seek, make-believe, climb trees/furniture, they naturally embrace risk, and they love to embrace new experiences. Playing is about finding ways to move within your body’s abilities (that may change on a daily basis if you have chronic pain!). It’s certainly not about “no pain, no gain”.

Some easy ways to add more fun into your Pilates or movement sessions:

• Put on some lighthearted music (maybe some of those oldies but goodies!).

• Imagine you’re an animal - how would that animal move in during a certain exercise? 

• Make different sounds as you move! Making different sounds will tap into that ever-so-important aspect of breathwork that is key to getting all the benefits of Pilates as well. 

Whichever way you choose to move - even if it seems silly - give it a try. Your body and mind will thank you! 

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