Pilates can help us with our big and dark stuff..

There have been a few occasions where I have literally fallen (backwards off a broken chair, is one that springs to mind) and I have been grateful for the Pilates in my body that has enabled me to catch my balance, my strength, my flexibility and save me from injury. There is no doubt how Pilates shapes and strengthens my structure and assists me in the world.. physically.

What is less obvious, but equally as powerful, is that Pilates is helping me with my inner “falling”… helping me deal with big emotions, stress and anxiety..

During Lockdown, although the situation was terribly bleak and sad outside, I felt quite stoical and optimistic - This too shall pass - inside. It was important to stay healthy ourselves, and prevent the spread to others and although a bit anxious, I concentrated on the online aspect of my business, and it felt good helping people with Pilates, over the internet.

I reconnected to my Pilates Mat practice and was grateful to be safe and on an even keel. Locked away and protected - physically and emotionally.

Then, whilst traversing the “phasing out” from the state of alarm over the last month or so, I have felt more emotional than ever -The after shock proving more powerful that the initial tremor that shook our world. Getting back “out there” was scary. Still is. I am not comfy “out there”..

My inner compass gyrating out of control and Pilates helped find my bearings..

And then..

..the massive and essential rising up for racial equality in the face of a brutal and discriminatory white society, that is still marginalising, and shamefully murdering people, and shamefully allowing the murder of people, because of their skin colour. I’ve been writing and deleting for hours because I don’t know how to address this.. I need to say something and apologies if I get it wrong…It’s devastating and I feel awful, but this isn’t about how I feel.

It’s about Black lives matter and making it the truth that it should always have been, today and forever.

We have allowed racial inequality to persist, and now we have to confront our own racism and part in it all. Not being outwardly racist does not make you anti racist, and anti racism doesn’t mean you have to be free from racism. We have a lot of active work to do - inwardly and outwardly.

I saw this.. “ I understand I will never understand but I stand with you” and this is a start, as I dig deep and face my own bias and racism, that I didn’t know I had, from my place of white privilege, white culture, oblivious, or turning a blind eye, if Im honest, to the horrendous inequality we have been complicit in fostering.

It’s super confronting and I am sorry. I am now listening and learning and I’m committing to anti-racism wherever I find it including in myself.

Pilates is not going to help cure the worlds injustices but it can help you navigate your inner world and the big and dark emotions of the times. Through mindful movement and connecting to your heart you can make new choices and be the person you want to be in this world. A person who cares about oppression, injustice, inequality and somebody that makes a difference.

Pilates is helping me by connecting me to the inner knowing we all have, and pulling forth the courage I need. It helps me navigate my big emotions and the hooks and stories I tell myself to avoid pain.

From the way we breathe in Pilates, and the way we concentrate and focus on deliberate movement from a place of ease, and not force, helps the vagus nerve tone, which brings us back from fight or flight mode.

Super important not to live from a place where cortisol and adrenaline are running the show.

The breath obviously re-oxygenates the blood, and the conscious breath patterns of Pilates improves the capacity of the lungs and the functionality of the respiratory system. When we can control our breath we can control our lives and this will help us tremendously, step up with confidence.

“As a heavy rainstorm freshens the water of a sluggish or stagnant stream, so does the Pilates method purify the bloodstream.” - Joseph Pilates

Pilates also stimulates the abdominals, and the area around the naval which is sometimes referred to third energy centre (chakra) and it is believed that this is where we hold our emotions. Some Pilates exercises move energy around this area making emotional shifts.

When we connect to our hearts and emotions to movement, we strengthen the ability process our emotions and relieve stress and tension.

Moving our bodies with Pilates also has great benefits to the circulatory system moving the blood around our bodies and raising the heart rate and lowering blood pressure.

Pilates isn’t considered spiritual practice of itself with history of the ancients, but with focus, concentration and beautiful fluidity of movement that connects me to my internal world, Pilates for me, is a spiritual practice that helps me catch me when I’m “falling”, and hopefully a better person each and every day.

“Every moment of our life can be the beginning of great things.”

- Joseph Pilates

Thank you for reading..

Come to an online class class from the comfort of your own home or if you are in Barcelona and would like to try a Reformer Class with me check out my Intro Offers

Regular Pilates can boost your long term immunity.

The advice out there can be confusing as to whether or not to exercise during the Coronavirus and how much. There is a popular misconception that exercise can actually depress the immune system however, the evidence supports that it’s important for us to move and exercise, as James Turner and John P Campbell, both professors at the University of Bath, write in their article arguing for regular exercise Conversation based on their own 2018 review about exercise and immunity.

Staying fit, healthy by exercising, eating well and sleeping well is going to have many benefits through this situation and beyond.

Of course, it would make sense that getting stuck into intense exercise when you are not used to it could be detrimental - “It is fair to say that a large increase in exercise intensity and/or duration, especially in people new to exercise, might have transient negative effects on the immune system,” says Jeffrey Woods, a professor of kinesiology and community health at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, who studies exercise and immunity, that isn’t going to be the case for most of us keeping up some level of health and fitness at home and most people will be sensible.

Therefore - kind of logically - too much exercise, and certainly starting from nothing, a new and rigorous regime is not a great idea and can put too much pressure on the body, making it more vulnerable (at a vulnerable time) than making it stronger. But equally, no or minimal movement at home, staying sedentary and is not good for us either and can have a depressing affect on the mind as well as the body. A study a Harvard medical review suggest that movement, like Pilates, is really good for our mental health.. Result!

Pilates is simply a perfect practice to keep you strong, flexible, mobile, with tone, balanced and with coordination… and sane.

For me exercise, in particular Pilates, is a must and essential to my physical and emotional wellbeing. Always.

Me, I like my Pilates to get my heart rate going a little - not so much we are a drenched in sweat and stressed, pushing ourselves to the limit at the expense of proper technique - but so we do get blood flowing, glowing and raising endorphins, getting the most out of each exquisite Pilates movement and all the benefits.. Deliberately dynamic, if you will.

Pilates makes us feel so good by focusing our attention on deliberate movement and honing our concentration, combined with breathing correctly and re-oxygenating the blood, this can be incredibly calming and reducing the detrimental effects of stress and anxiety. The muscles get a workout but so does the nervous system and the immune system.

Pilates dynamic and energetic - definitely not boring and or the easy option, but not so rigorous as to cause stress to the body.

You will feel you worked the next day but will be able to walk… hopefully.

If you feel like a class with me book here

Below is an example of how I like move through some Pilates abdominal exercises - getting technique correct, while getting a the circulation going and making the most out of the movement in the muscles and in the internal systems (circulatory, respiratory, nervous, for example..)

It’s good for the body inside and out.. what’s there not to love..

Thank you and see you soon for the next in the series..

In health and happiness and more health

Laura X

What's your purpose?

Finally a simple answer to a complex question.

I was recently telling a friend that, now I'm birthing my new Pilates Reformer Barcelona project, I have for the first time in years felt more "on purpose" than ever, although I claim I don't know what my life purpose is, if that makes sense?

I've meditated, done exercises, journaled, and the pressure to “find” this purpose has had me feeling quite inadequate for most of my life.

Aaarrghhh “Purpose, why do you STILL elude me?”

I have over the last decade connected back into my heart and body after a lengthy battle with bulimia, and I have since wanted to help others do the same. I enjoy getting my clients strong from the inside out, aligned, balanced and connected in their bodies, hearts and minds with Pilates classes, here in Barcelona, but is it my purpose. I kind of happily fell into it rather than being called and isn’t purpose a calling?

Does my work matter enough? Am I making enough of a difference to people? Do you ever think that?

Now I am fully recovered and am fit and very healthy, emotionally as well as physically, I am passionate about helping people, not only with their bad backs, posture and muscle balance, but in knowing that they are powerful beyond measure, and absolutely enough as they are, and can live life with gusto.

I feel more on purpose than ever now…

I have my Reformers in my little Barcelona studio, classes are getting booked up. There’s more focus and clarity to my work and yes, I do feel joy and, for the first time in ages, a sense of peace that things are falling into place. Hooray!

But am I living my purpose? I feel it should be more obvious. Do you know what I mean?

And then, I found this….

I found it online but I don’t know the source, I’m afraid.

It’s like I’ve been given permission that I’m ok and sometimes I need this external reassurance to provide a reflection. Like I teach my clients we are enough, and we are doing enough. By being, kind, compassionate and everyday, making difference with just a smile.

We are not losing or wasting our time because we aren’t in a profession that is directly saving lives, or finding eco friendly alternatives to plastic. We are on purpose by being a human being travelling our crazy, absurd but glorious lives with spirit and integrity, doing our best in the madness.

Amen! Purpose found..Being a decent, and serving human being.

So as I keep myself going into overwhelm about the new Reformer Pilates classes, starting next Monday (click here for details) and the responsibility to my clients, I feel secure that I am on purpose already… delivering strong cores, stable hips, flexible spines, healthy postures and toned balanced muscles is just part of the the bigger picture we are all part of and it all matters.

Nice!

Since I am launching my new Pilates Reformer Classes this week I have become a little overwhelmed and since that is a state that is familiar to us all below is an exercise I use to help me soothe myself. If you are feeling you need to balance your emotions and help yourself feel secure watch this video from my Limitless Live series..

How do you feel about purpose? There is such a thing? How do you know when you are living it? I’d love to know what your experience. Let me know in the comments below..

Thank you

Love Laura XX