PILATES CAN HELP YOU KEEP YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

As the calendar ticks over for another year, you may have recently set resolutions to guide your new year with purpose. While enthusiasm is high, making resolutions that last beyond that initial spark of motivation can be challenging.

If you’re tired of the cycle of cheerfully setting and quickly abandoning your resolutions, what you need is a fun way of exercising that will ultimately help you achieve your goals.

Let’s explore how embracing some of the principles we follow in Pilates can unlock your full potential this year and help ensure you have resolutions worth keeping.

Relaxation 
Focusing on releasing areas of tension within the body before and during each exercise is important as it allows constructive change to occur. Relaxation of overactive muscles through conscious and controlled mobilisation forms a key part of Pilates  exercise, thus enabling less active muscles to be recruited and developed.

Concentration 
Pilates requires constant awareness of the movement process. You must be mindful of your body and its movements, otherwise you cease to learn, you just ‘do’.

Alignment 
Alignment is the key to stability and correct posture.Maintaining good posture and body awareness encourages the desired muscles to work efficiently.

Breathing 
Learning how to breathe properly strengthens the diaphragm which contributes to the relaxation of the psoas (hip flexor muscles) whilst simultaneously activating the core and pelvic floor muscles.

Centering (core stability )
Centering is a dynamic process which relates directly to both the challenge of limiting any unwanted movements as well as maintaining the control and flow of the movements that are supposed to be taking place throughout the exercise.

Co-ordination
Functional movement patterns are taught to encourage precision and control. As exercise levels progress the complexity of the movement sequence increases. Co-ordination is excellent mental and physical training.

Flowing movements
Flowing movement provides part of the uniqueness to the Pilates Method. A focus on controlled, graceful and yet dynamic movement should be at the core of each movement. If all the other principles are considered and interrelated then flowing movement should occur as a result.

Stamina
Pilates builds endurance by ensuring the body is used efficiently. Muscles begin to work more functionally as energy will no longer be wasted and stamina will develop.

Surrounding yourself with a supportive community can be the key to keeping your sights on your goals. Sharing your resolutions with a supportive community that encourages and celebrates your progress will feel rewarding and encourage more motivation.

So don’t delay join a group Pilates classes today to help support your New Year goals and a more fulfilling year ahead.