Pilates in the Pines

Stress. You can’t live with it and you can’t live without it. While stress can do lots of harm to our bodies causing insomnia to stress on the heart, it can also serve as a motivator to get us to do what needs to be done. While the latter form of stress is good, the concern with the negative effects stress has on our bodies is uppermost at Pilates In The Pines. Fortunately, Pilates can help us manage that stress, and other benefits like creating a more balanced life in which you can do what needs to be done and what you WANT to get done.

The Mayo Clinic sites several ways in which exercise can help you de-stress:

1. Physical activity helps to bump up the production of your brain's feel-good neurotransmitters, called endorphins.

2. A workout is meditation in motion. As you begin to regularly shed your daily tensions through movement and physical activity, you may find that this focus on a single task, and the resulting energy and optimism, can help you remain calm and clear in everything that you do.

3. Regular exercise can increase self-confidence and lower the symptoms associated with mild depression and anxiety. Exercise also can improve your sleep, which is often disrupted by stress, depression and anxiety.

Pilates meets all of those criteria! In fact, the IDEA Health & Fitness Association points out that “in 1920, Joseph Pilates (founder of the Pilates method) defined his work with six principles that are remarkably similar to today’s proven methods of managing stress: relaxation, breath, concentration, guided imagery, heightened body awareness and mindfulness.”

Pilates movements develop the body's muscles uniformly. Pilates goes one step further than yoga by strengthening the muscles as well as stretching and relaxing them. We recommend Pilates two to three times a week, alternating with cardio exercises on the other days for a well-rounded routine.
Come in and talk to us about how pilates can help you manage stress. You’re never too old to do Pilates. The benefits can be far-reaching from weight loss, to better balance, to rehabilitation after an injury or surgery and, certainly as an aid in helping you cope with the stresses of day-to-day life. We will help you put together a plan that works specifically for you.

Here’s a quote we love from Susan Balla at Learning Dynamics that pretty much sums it all up: Taking care of yourself is not a selfish act. If we are well, then it is easier to give freely to others around us. If we are depleted from worry, depression, or fatigue, we are less equipped to deal with everyday stressors for both our families and ourselves. Giving back to yourself will not only replenish your resources it also reminds us that we are worth it.

So true! Now, take a deep, calming breath and come get started with us, to start replenishing your life. 

Pilates in the Pines is located in The Village at Castle Pines, east of the intersection of US 85 (Santa Fe Drive) and Happy Canyon Road just north of Castle Rock in Douglas County. Complete information about the studio, its location, and its classes is available on our website, www.pilatesinthepines.com.