5 WAYS PILATES CAN BOOST CREATIVITY

AS A NOVELIST AND A PILATES INSTRUCTOR FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS, NOT ONLY HAVE I OBSERVED CHANGES IN MY BODY, I’VE OBSERVED CHANGES IN MY STATE OF MIND

Pilates helps you clear your head, rejuvenates you and fortifies your sense of composure and confidence, boosting your ability to be productive and creative. Here’s why.

IT FOSTERS A STRONG MIND/BODY CONNECTION

If I’m faced with a challenge in my writing, the solution often comes to me more readily after I’ve practiced Pilates. It becomes a coordination of mind, body and spirit—all ingredients for enhanced creativity. Additionally, when performing other types of exercise that are often known for jump-starting the imagination, such as running or cycling, Pilates ensures you are balanced muscularly, so that less energy is spent on the activity’s motion itself. This frees your mind when performing repetitive motions, and many people find that solutions to problems suddenly present themselves.

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IT BOOSTS CONFIDENCE

Pilates teaches proper body alignment and refocuses attention on the posture. This not only translates to muscles that function more efficiently, but helps you become more centered, grounded and confident. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy, in her TED Talk, enlightens her audience on how power poses and attention to confident posture reduce cortisol levels and boost confidence. Pilates is the perfect way to do this.

IT REDUCES NEGATIVE EMOTIONS

So much of our creativity is thwarted by our inner censor and insecurities. Pilates works your body intensely and with concentration. As with many favorite workouts, endorphins are released into the body. This makes you feel good, at ease and more positive. I write from home and am faced with countless distractions: laundry, children, Facebook, etc. But through my practice, I regularly learn to focus my attention and remain calm. The best way to grow your creativity is to pacify your fears and ignore everything that stunts it, and Pilates can help you do that.

IT IMPROVES NERVOUS SYSTEM FUNCTION

Neurogenesis, which refers to the development of neurons in the brain, is a process that is most active when a baby is developing in the womb. However, the development of new neurons can continue throughout adulthood. Several studies have shown that exercise, like Pilates, improves neurogenesis as well as protects existing cells. This can translate to better memory, lower risks of Alzheimer’s, and improved learning and problem-solving skills. Additionally, every time we recruit our powerhouse, our brains send impulses to deep muscle fibers that are sometimes dormant through a complex process involving the spinal cord. When we learn to regularly activate certain deep core muscles, we engage a chain of movement that may have been lazy for a long time, which helps facilitate the functioning of our nervous system.