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Fitness Wisdom Wednesday: Making the Mind/Body Connection
I consider this blog an “exercise confessional” of sorts. A place to air my exercise and diet confessions that surely others out there in the Internet world share with me.
Today on this “Fitness Wisdom Wednesday,” I must confess that I am addicted to the endorphin high of endurance exercise; mainly a long run, bike ride or swim. This endorphin high supersedes any other form of exercise that is supposed to be good for me, such as mind/body practices like Pilates or yoga – that in my opinion, were too slow for my current cardio-centric exercise routine.
Pilates is a mind/body exercise that can help trim and tone the body
Mind/body exercise is physical exercise that utilizes four principles: breathing, precision, control and concentration. Often in the whirlwind of my busy life, making the time to focus my mind on my body went out the window. I wanted to get a good sweat and calorie burn with the limited time that I had in the day. But now with tendinitis in both my knees, due from my intense exercise regimen, I thought it may finally be the time to slow down and do my body some good.
I had the pleasure of meeting one of our GRAVITY (remember, GRAVITY is our health club workout on Total Gym) Master Trainers, JayDee, at an international fitness convention in San Diego this March, who just so happened to be a Pilates instructor. It was then that I decided to stop resisting mind/body exercise and start taking private Pilates sessions with JayDee.
JayDee teaches Pilates in his home on the Total Gym GTS (the commercial version of Total Gym), which acts like a Pilates reformer with the added ability to blend mat, reformer and Cadillac exercises on one machine. And because JayDee can change my incline resistance on the GTS, I can do more advanced exercises earlier in my Pilates training.
Thanks to JayDee, I can now appreciate feeling both energized and relaxed (yes, it’s possible) after our one-hour Pilates sessions – that by no means are a cake walk I assure you! I’m so busy focusing on my breath and contracting my muscles throughout various exercises that our weekly sessions fly by.
Here are some of the benefits of mind/body exercise like Pilates:
- Improved range of motion, core strength, flexibility, circulation and posture
- Decreased anxiety
- Enhanced sleep
- Reduced recovery time
- Stronger immune system and enhanced ability to heal
- Increased sense of control and well-being
It’s hard for cardio-high seekers like me to understand how a workout that doesn’t leave a sweat stain on your shirt could make you feel so energized and empowered? Trust me, it’s a feeling unlike anything you’ll every experience. You’ll feel stronger, invigorated, happier and less anxious.
I can officially say I’m addicted to a new exercise “high” from my Pilates sessions. If you are like me – or the occasional exercise enthusiast looking to incorporate mind/body exercise into your routine – take the time to add a Pilates or yoga session into your weekly workouts. Trust me, your body and mind will thank you!
Here’s to a healthy and “mindful” rest of the week!
