Reformer Pilates is becoming a favorite exercise, especially among women. This exercise is said to provide many benefits for physical health. So, what about the benefits for mental health?
Stress has become a common problem, especially among adults. Routine, work, economic problems, and other things can trigger stress in someone.
Stress affects not only mental health, but also physical health. Chronic stress can lead to a variety of health problems, including muscle tension, poor posture, and chronic fatigue.
All of these physical health issues often add to a person's stress levels, creating a cycle that is difficult to break. Understanding the mind-body connection is essential to reducing stress.
How Reformer Pilates Helps Reduce Stress
When doing this exercise, you will be directed to focus on the movement and also breathing. Staying focused on doing the right movements while controlling your breathing can help you to stay relaxed and reduce physical health problems that occur due to stress.
Additionally, keeping your mind focused and concentrated can also help quiet the noise inside your head.
It has been scientifically proven that exercise can affect hormones in the body. Exercise can reduce the stress hormone called Cortisol, while increasing Endorphins, which are hormones that can "create" feelings of pleasure. For this reason, Reformer Pilates can help reduce stress.
In addition, there are several other benefits of Reformer Pilates in reducing stress, such as:
Relaxing the body
The slow yet controlled movements of Reformer Pilates can promote relaxation for the body. As you stretch your muscles during the exercise, it will help to relax tense muscles.
This relaxation has an impact on reducing anxiety and helping to increase a sense of calm. In addition, regulating breathing during Pilates training sessions can also help the body to stay relaxed and have an impact on reducing stress.
Improve sleep quality
Stress often causes sleep disturbances, while sleep is essential to help manage stress effectively. Pilates exercises with the Reformer can help improve sleep quality by tiring out your small muscles, allowing you to fall asleep faster.
Regular exercise can help create a healthy sleep routine that helps you fall asleep faster, sleep better, and stay asleep longer.
Reduce stress hormones
Doing Reformer Pilates can help reduce the production of stress hormones like Cortisol. Combining physical activity with deep breathing can help regulate the body's stress response.
If exercise is done regularly, it can have a significant impact on reducing overall stress levels.
Also read: Here are 5 reasons why you should practice with bumper plates
Helps control emotions
Usually when facing problems, our breathing will become faster, heavier, feel tight, and also noisy. While when facing something pleasant and calming, breathing will become deeper and slower.
This means that emotions and breath are always interconnected. This is the reason why doing breathing exercises is very important in regulating emotions. When doing Pilates exercises, you not only do various movements, but are also directed to regulate your breathing.
More controlled emotions can help reduce stress levels. For this reason, regular Pilates exercises are highly recommended.
Creating interactions with many people
Some people find the best way to relieve stress is by interacting with other people. By taking a Pilates class, you will have the opportunity to meet many people and get to know and interact with them.
Building new good relationships with many people can help create positive energy which is good for managing and lowering stress levels.
Consider This Before Taking a Reformer Pilates Class
If you are interested in using Reformer Pilates as a tool for stress management, here are some things to keep in mind:
Find a qualified instructor
Look for a class with a certified Pilates instructor. This is very important because a qualified instructor will help provide proper guidance and ensure your safety and security during the exercise.
Consistent
To get the stress-reducing benefits of Reformer Pilates, you need to practice regularly. Just going to class once won't be enough to reduce your high stress levels.
Try to regularly attend Pilates classes two to three times a week to get the results you want.
Listen to your body
Pilates exercises are great for reducing stress, however, make sure to always listen to your body. Don't push yourself too hard in Pilates exercises. Excessive training will not give you the benefits you want, in fact it can be dangerous because it can cause injury.
Combine with other stress reduction techniques
While Reformer Pilates can help you manage stress, consider doing other things that can help reduce stress levels. You can try meditation, do your hobbies, or even eat healthy foods with good nutrition.
Combining Pilates Reformer exercises with other things can effectively help reduce stress and even improve your physical health.
Tips for Maintaining Consistency in Pilates Exercises
There are several things that can help you to be consistent in doing Pilates exercises, namely:
Small steps matter
Don't overwhelm yourself, start small to help you stay consistent. Doing Pilates for a few minutes every day can be a good start. Once you've established consistency, then gradually increase your workouts.
Read more: Suffering from Lower Back Pain? Relieve It with Pilates Reformer
Track every progress
Monitor your physical and mental development from before you do Pilates exercises until when you start doing them consistently. Every progress will help increase your enthusiasm and consistency in doing Pilates exercises.
Make it a habit
Try to practice at the same time every day. Make Pilates a part of your daily routine, just like eating and sleeping. This will help you stay consistent with your Pilates practice.
Don't let your stress build up, start doing things that help you reduce stress such as doing Reformer Pilates. Not only will your mental health improve, it will also have a positive impact on your physical health.
