Movement Is Life
Jun 27, 2021
Way back when I was at university studying to be a Pilates teacher, our lecturer declared "Movement is Life." She then delivered a very powerful lecture, which had such an impact on me, I still remember it almost 17 years later and it has influenced my whole Pilates vision. She asked us to imagine what it would be like to be heading towards the end of our lives and have several years left of being mentally healthy but having lost the ability to move. What would that mean? Basically, you would have lost your independence and you would be 100% dependent on others around you for your very survival. You would also be putting yourself at risk of a range of other diseases due to being completely inactive. Not to mention the potential mental health issues the loss of mobility would expose you to as well. This all sounds very depressing but this is where Pilates comes in. Many of the issues that could cause you to lose your ability to move are entirely preventable. I'm passionate about helping people to stay strong, flexible and pain-free so they can move with ease well into their retirement years. I've helped hundreds of people over the years to take control of their own health and fitness and live life on their own terms, well into their later years. If you want to stay pain-free through all stages of life, Pilates is for you. I can empower you with the Pilates skills you need to move with ease now and throughout your life. In this post, we are going to look at just how important movement really is and how we can maintain our independence for as long as possible.
Movement is Essential for Humans
Humans are designed to move. Even before we are born we are moving. An active fetus is considered a sign of a healthy baby that is increasing in both size and strength. This movement is actually essential to ensure the development of good bone and joint health. When an expectant mother notices her baby has stopped moving urgent medical attention is required and sadly it can indicate the fetus has died. Movement is life and lack of movement or being unable to move is associated with an absence of life. This is of course not always the case. Modern life means that many people lead sedentary lifestyles sometimes by choice or necessity. There are people who just don't like moving and will do anything possible to avoid it. Others know they need to be moving more but are restricted in their workplaces. Either way, if you don't get moving you will have to deal with the consequences at some point in your life and the sooner you face this truth the better. I know this sounds harsh but sometimes tough love is necessary!
What happens if we don't move?
Several of my clients who started Pilates with me to overcome the effects of a sedentary lifestyle can tell you firsthand exactly what happens when you don't move. It varies from person to person but in the short term, many of them had poor posture which contributes to back pain, joint pain, and weight gain. It becomes a vicious cycle because as their pain level worsens, it becomes increasingly more difficult for them to move which, ironically, is the very thing they need to do to become pain-free. The long-term effects of a sedentary lifestyle include heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, mental health issues and several types of cancer. Admittedly this sounds very grim, but when you consider that movement is such a simple solution to preventing these illnesses, something that we as humans are designed to do naturally, it's a tragedy that more people don't get moving while they can. All of my clients, without exception, who were living sedentary lifestyles were able to ease back into moving with Pilates, become pain-free and go on to making movement a priority in their lives. If you are in a similar situation and aren't sure how to re-introduce movement back into your life take the free 10 day trial of JS Mind Body Pilates, my online Pilates studio and allow me to assist you back into moving.
Maintaining Your Independence as You Age
Our independence is often something we take for granted until it is taken away from us. Many of my clients are determined to maintain their health, fitness and independence as they age because they don't want to end up like their parents. This older generation didn't have the knowledge and resources about health and fitness available to them that we are so very fortunate to have at our disposal today. I've heard the devastation and heartbreak from these clients who visit their parents in nursing homes where they are incapacitated for varying reasons and spend their time confined to bed unable to move with very poor quality of life. It's tragic for both the parents themselves and their adult children who are helpless to assist them. If you are the sort of person who values your independence and freedom don' take this for granted. By ensuring you stay physically and mentally active throughout all stages of life, you are greatly improving your chances of enjoying happy, healthy and independent retirement years. Even though it's never too late to begin, the earlier you start, the more beneficial it will be for you and it will become a way of life for you in your later years. Pilates is ideal for helping sedentary people discover how enjoyable moving can be. It also provides all the tools you need to keep working out as you age and can be practiced right throughout your life.
How can I incorporate more movement into my life?
Pilates is ideal because with a personalised program you can move at your own pace. You can also do short sessions of 15 - 20 mins at a time on JS Mind Body Pilates, my online studio, in the comfort of your own home. Break up your time spent sitting down even a short walk around your office or home for 30 secs every 30 minutes is highly beneficial. The key is to avoid long periods of time spent inactive. Walking is a cost-effective way of including more movement into your lifeand the majority of people find it enjoyable. Again, ease into it with short walks of 10 -15 mins depending on your individual level of fitness and make it a manageable activity then gradually increase the duration as you build up endurance. Finding something you are passionate about such as martial arts, tennis or dancing means that you will always find time to accommodate your chosen movement activity into your schedule. It's all about finding something that works for you personally.
So as you can see movement really is life and it's something we need to incorporate into our lives to protect our mental and physical health at all stages of life but particularly as we age. If you would like to start Pilates and are ready to take control of your own health and fitness you can email me at [email protected] or take the free 10 day trial of JS Mind Body Pilates, my online Pilates studio. I'm passionate about helping people make PIlates a way of life and it would be my pleasure to assist you on your Pilates journey!
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