It's all about balance

The mental health benefits of Pilates & Yoga

Pilates and Yoga can be seen, by many, as ‘not for me’. This is often due to images online of lycra bound ladies or hippy looking folk chanting ‘om’. While this may be the case for some of the classes and workshops we provide, at Rochdale Pilates & Yoga studio we aim to bring Pilates and Yoga to the ‘real’ people of Rochdale and surrounding areas.

Both Pilates and Yoga have enormous benefits for our physical health; reducing back pain, improving posture, strength and flexibility as well as improving balance and co-ordination, to name a few. However, our mental health needs our attention just as much as our physical health does.

Let’s look at some of the ways that Pilates and Yoga have the potential to help improve mental health...

USING THE BREATH TO FIND MINDFULNESS IN MOVEMENT

Breath is one of the most powerful tools in calming the mind and is utilised in a wide range of mental health practises as well as our yoga classes and holistic workshops. Similarly, breathing is one of Joseph Pilates’ 8 Principles of Pilates and an essential component in all Pilates classes. Every Pilates exercise involves a breathing pattern which helps to supply oxygen to the muscles, removes waste products and prevents you from holding your breath.

In focusing on your breath, the brain is not able to compile that “to do” list or focus on the afternoon schedule of picking up the kids, getting to swimming lessons or what to have for tea! Instead, Pilates and Yoga both direct your focus inward for the duration of the class, focusing on the present, feeling the muscles work and reconnecting with your body.

STRESS MANAGEMENT AND RELAXATION

Pilates and Yoga are also used widely as a way to reduce and cope with stress. Exercise can decrease ‘stress hormones’ like cortisol, and increase endorphins, your body’s ‘feel-good’ chemicals, giving your mood a natural boost. You may like a faster paced class such as our Body Conditioning class or even Equipment Pilates in order to feel the ‘burn’ and the endorphin release.

IMPROVING MEMORY AND BRAIN TRAINING

When performing automated forms of exercise such as running on a treadmill, the body may be working but the brain is not actively engaged. Reformer Circuit classes are a perfect way to improve body and mind; the Pilates machines add resistance and also provide assistance, meaning you get a full body and brain workout.

A TOOL IN TREATING DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY

Pilates and Yoga may assist in the treatment of depression and anxiety by offering an opportunity to socialise, changing the levels of chemicals in the brain (serotonin, cortisol and endorphins), providing a distraction from negative thoughts, releasing stress, enhancing mindfulness and helping to create a self-care routine.

The most amazing part of speaking to our members is when they start seeing changes, not only in their bodies but also in their minds, in their emotions and in their lives altogether. We all know our modern world is full of distractions, stress and reasons not to commit. Each one of us is looking for a personal state of peace that would help us make sense of everything that is going on in our lives. When searching for that inner balance we usually consider booking a holiday or reaching for that second beer or glass of wine. Why not consider Pilates & Yoga as a viable tool to help us balance our lives?

Join our supportive community today and start to work on the best version of you. We have classes across seven days, including Pilates for Beginners, Mixed Ability and Intermediate levels and pride ourselves in our small classes and individual attention.

Michelle Barker & Taira Booth

Rochdale Pilates & Yoga Studio is a Pilates, Yoga, Fitness and Wellness Studio in the heart of Rochdale. Your individual attention in our small classes will help restore balance, stability and strength to your body when you need it most. We want you to come away feeling encouraged, relaxed and refreshed after your session and wanting to return, to feel the body and mind benefits of the amazing classes we offer. We pride ourselves in our warm, inclusive welcome and offer varying pricing packages to suit you. We hope that you take that first step and join us to see first hand how Pilates and Yoga can help you, no matter what your goals are.Remember #itsallaboutbalance

Call: 07973 197716

www.rochdalepilates.co.uk

E: info@rochdalepilates.co.uk

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