How Does Pilates Help With Mental Health Too?
If you practice Pilates with regularity, you know how effective it is in strengthening, lengthening, and toning your muscles. As such, you may not have considered how it’s also positively impacting your brain.
“Pilates, as well as all exercise really, works on the brain in similar ways to antidepressants,” says Ron Jegadeesh, owner, instructor, and physical therapist at Pilates Fitness and Physical Therapy center in Southfield. “It boosts the levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain, leading to an improved mood. Add in the release of endorphins – which are nothing more than naturally-occurring opioids the body creates – and it’s no wonder you feel lifted after physical activity!”
As the challenging but safe movements in Pilates help practitioners increase muscle tone, build endurance, and even lose weight, they notice a boost in self-esteem and confidence. Plus, whenever you’re involved in an activity like Pilates, the body produces neurohormones that improve thinking and mood. These allow for a clear mind during stressful events. Finally, there’s the benefit of increasing the heart rate which can reduce damage to the brain caused by chronic stress. So it really is a complete practice!