Take Time For Yourself With Pilates

"It is so important to take time for yourself and find clarity.  The most important relationship is the one you have with yourself" Diane von Furstenberg 

The modern world can leave us feeling overloaded and overwhelmed and the global pandemic has added another yet layer of challenge to our daily lives.  So how can we counteract this?  Taking time out to focus on your own health and wellbeing is one of the best investments you can ever make.  Practising Pilates not only maintains our bodies physically but calms the mind and renews the spirit.  Self-care doesn't mean you are selfish but is essential for your own well-being and happiness.  It also makes you more productive, increases your enjoyment of life, and gives you more energy to support those close to you.

Mind Full or Mindful?

Sometimes I find it hard to sleep because I can't quieten my mind and wind down in preparation for the night ahead.  I'm sure you've all experienced this at some point in your lives.  This is a classic case of the mind being "full" or overactive and I'm sure you will agree it usually makes for a restless night's sleep.  This is an indication that you are not being "mindful" or present in the moment and need to take steps to calm and quieten your mind.   When you are in this relaxed state you will almost be guaranteed a peaceful, restorative night's sleep.  So when we know we have lost that connection with ourselves how do we bring ourselves back into the present moment? 

Recharge, Revalitise & Reconnect to Yourself with Pilates

When you are overworking, caring for children, grandchildren or elderly parents and neglecting your own needs, your body and mind will start to reflect this.  Many people ignore their bodies' needs until they have developed a chronic health condition and can often feel resentful, burnt out and depressed or anxious.  You can keep denying yourself adequate self-care but it's a false economy and you will be forced to pay for it eventually.  My unique Pilates program, JS Mind Body Pilates online is designed so that you can have high-quality Pilates tuition in the comfort of your home either on-demand or 1 on 1 via Skype or a combination of both.  Being able to slot your Pilates sessions into your busy schedule means you can do your sessions at a time that suits you without having to factor in travel time to and from a studio.  You can choose your ideal session length and you can schedule it at a time that suits you such as in your lunch break or before your children wake up in the morning.  There are sequences that cater to different levels of ability and different health conditions such as back pain, osteoporosis, knee pain and shoulder pain, for example.   Some videos help you to wind down for sleep, maintain gentle movement when you are sick or challenge your balance & coordination.  It's just a matter of tailoring your program to your individual needs and I'm always on hand via email to help you decide which approach is the most beneficial for you.  Practicing Pilates provides time out from the busy world to go within and connect with yourself.  Many of my clients refer to their Pilates training as "moving meditation" which makes it the ultimate form of self-care.  Joseph Pilates originally designed his method of exercise to be as much a mental workout as it is physical.   This combined with a conscious breathing pattern encourages us to be "mindful" and very much in the present moment.  This mindfulness then carries over into our daily lives and allows us to reconnect with our ourselves and gain clarity on what our needs and priorities are.  It also leaves us feeling slightly energised, revitalised and ready to take on the world.  Who doesn't want to feel like that on a regular basis?  The long-term benefits of Pilates training are improved posture,  increased strength and flexibility, pain-free living and an overall feeling of well-being.

Self Care in Daily Life

When you are practicing Pilates and making yourself a priority in your own life you will want to make other improvements to further support the positive changes you are experiencing.  Imagine taking care of yourself as you would your best friend, partner or your child.  You want only the best for them and you should want the same for yourself too.  Examine your own life and the way you currently treat yourself and see what improvements you can make.  How do you talk to yourself?  Are you kind, loving and forgiving or do you beat yourself up for every "mistake" and perceived shortcoming?  If you change the way you speak to yourself you will change your reality, it's that simple.  Try monitoring your self-talk and if it's not as positive as it could be try replacing it with more positivity.  You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by trying this.  Associate with people who reinforce this positive self-talk and leave you feeling uplifted.  Are you eating foods that nourish and sustain you?  See if there is anything you can improve on in terms of your diet.  Don't be afraid to say "no" to requests on your time that you know will drain you.  If you are unsure say "I'll think about it and I'll let you know."  Only commit your time to what will keep you happy and energised, not drained and burnt out.  As you can see these are just a few examples of ways that you can stay mindful and connected with yourself and ensure you are making your own self-care a priority.

If you are ready to make yourself a priority and start your Pilates journey you can email me at [email protected] for information about how to begin.  Alternatively, you can look at the options available here, to get started straight away.  Once you begin taking time for yourself with Pilates you will begin to experience the life-changing results both my clients and myself have already experienced. It would be my pleasure to assist you on your Pilates journey too!