Practice Pilates : Practice Presence
When I think back on my first Pilates class ever, I remember knowing immediately that “this is for me!” Why?: In addition to how calm and strong my body felt, I also felt a mental clarity that I knew I could attribute to the mindful, focused movement of my body and breath for the entire length of class.
Pilates is a somatic practice, meaning it helps to foster the brain/body connection. Other somatic practices include tai chi, dance, and yoga, and all help soothe the nervous system and put the brain and body at ease through the practice of presence.
This month, I’ll be cueing you to focus on muscle cues and breath as a way to practice presence in your body. If you have difficulty slowing down the mind during Pilates, I have two suggestions:
Try a slower-paced, longer class to help your mind slow down. A longer session will allow you more time to drop into focus
Try a “flow” class where the pace is faster but we match breath with movement
Want a suggestion? Try the “I Want To Feel Restored” Collection as a great place to start for slow-and-low type of classes. Or for something more flowy, this This 40 Min Class is one of my recent favorites.
