MEDITATION TO REALIGN
Meditation is the art of cultivating mindfulness and bringing focus to the present moment. The foundation of Pilates is about mindful movement. Each exercise is designed to enhance body awareness, improve posture, and create a balance between strength and flexibility. The emphasis Pilates has on breathing and control brings an additional meditative element into the practice. Furthermore, “Findings suggest that the Pilates Method specifically enhances mindfulness, and these increases are associated with other measures of wellness” (Caldwell et al. 2013). By combining meditation with Pilates, you can create a deeper connection with your body and realign yourself both mentally and physically.
Meditation encourages you to observe your body without judgment. When practicing Pilates, this mindfulness can help you tune into subtle imbalances or areas of tension that need extra attention. Meditation helps release tension stored in the body, which can hinder your physical alignment. When used with Pilates, meditation reduces stress and promotes relaxation, allowing you to move more freely and align your spine and limbs with less restriction. As a result of this heightened awareness and tension release, you will be able to focus on proper alignment while improving posture and your form.
However realignment is not just about physical posture , it also involves mental clarity. Meditation helps clear mental clutter, allowing you to focus on realigning your body with more intention. When your mind is clear, your movements become more purposeful, and you can better engage the muscles needed for proper alignment. The mental and physical benefits from this often go hand in hand. Similar to how Pilates improves mindfulness, and being mindful during Pilates can improve your Pilates practice.
To try this out for yourself, before your next Pilates session take a minute of meditation to bring your awareness into your body and the present moment. Most of our classes at Niche start with breath work, finding a short mindfulness before you begin to realign yourself mentally and physically.
Sources:
Caldwell, K., Adams, M., Quin, R., Harrison, M., & Greeson, J. (2013, December 1). Pilates, mindfulness and somatic education. Journal of dance & somatic practices. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4198945/