The simple secret of happiness..

A few months ago I wrote a blog - 8 steps to reclaim time and find joy - about how during lockdown I realised that I was whipping up a crazy, busy life for myself, that it was my own construct, and how I had to take responsibility and claim that time back for myself.

It was happier

I truly took back control and stop the incessant running around I was doing, filling all the space in a day with more, more. Okay, I still have a demanding lifestyle, and am busy with my Pilates business and my family life still, but something has shifted and I still can proudly claim I am walking (not running) through my life, smelling the roses.

3 months later Im still feeling pretty joyful and am not running around like mad.. however I realised that joy could be in the running too….

I have realised, however, by slowing myself down these months, joy isn't only in the space - it can be in all, and any, of it.. 

In all the jam packed, madness of every day life!

Thankfully so, as the crazy blur of work, school pick-ups, supermarkets, zoom meetings, appointments, dinner prep, are not obvious places of joy..

"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour, and that one, is what we are doing" Annie Dillard

And so, I've been trying to live a bit more consciously with regards to time - to spend it well. 

Really being there with my lovely, amazing clients at the Pilates studio, with my little family, reconnecting with my own body, and mind, as well as helping others connect to theirs. 

We've all really needed each other at this time, and Pilates has been more than the sum of its parts for me right now.

The conscious movement, and the connection it facilitates - with ourselves, and with each other, is what heals, and is perfect for our times.  

If you are in Barcelona, and fancy trying Pilates on the Reformer with me, check out my Intro Offers for January or see what others are saying about it all. 

“Change happens through movement and movement heals.” Joseph Pilates

Pilates helped me slow it all down, and bring it back to basics... 

And so joy is being there in the moment.. 

Even on the school run, at the supermarket, in the queue at the post office

Simple everyday stuff -  it's in there somewhere.

Not always, of course - and sometimes we are overwhelmed, sad, and driven to distraction mad, and quite far from joy - but knowing it is there, is kind of nice.

If you fancy a bit of spending time in Pilates joy, on the Mat, this is a video recorded in the summer as part of the Dynamic Flow series..

It's not for absolute beginners, and you can modify to suit your level, whilst being sensible and responsible for yourself in class. Have fun!

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