How the Pilates breathing principle delivers better muscle tone, can relieve stress and anxiety, and bolster your overall physical and mental health. Your Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) comprises two parts, sympathetic and parasympathetic, all housed in the mammalian part of the brain. These parts are called the “fight or flight” and your “rest, digest, and relax” states. The body needs to seamlessly and efficiently transition between these two states to help you navigate the world and its challenges. But what…
You can maximize your Pilates practice by taking from each Pure Movement Instructor and learning something new, both about Pilates and yourself, on the journey! We’re excited to kick off our second Pilates fitness challenge this year! This winter, we want you to try something new and familiar. Each instructor has a unique Pilates journey, and it’s a genuine treat when we get to share it with each of you. What is the Treat Yourself Challenge? We’re challenging you to…
The difference between manual therapy techniques that target muscle tissue and your body’s connective tissue. Both myofascial release, which is self-massage addressing your fascia, and a massage seek to positively effect your mobility by relaxing muscles, improving blood and lymphatic circulation and stimulating stiff or underactive tissues. Following we break down the difference between myofasical release versus massage. Massage What it means: A general term for applying pressure, rubbing, or kneading the soft tissue, including the muscles, tendons, connective tissue,…
These tried-and-true Pilates exercises go beyond your studio class and work your whole body fitness, whether in the gym, a part of your warm-up, or your cooldown! Pilates Bridge Exercise Why we love it. Strengthening and stretching for the lower body and core. A bridge is the perfect reverse exercise for your sitting behavior. It combines the flexion of your hamstrings and core while lengthening and stretching your hip flexors. Pilates Chest Lift Exercise Why we love it. Deceptively simple,…
Beyond building strength, Pilates builds your ability to endure strain on your muscles for more extended periods! You’ve just started Pilates classes, or you’ve returned from even just a two-week hiatus, and you’re jumping into a class. You’re moving along feeling pretty good, but – OMG! Was that a charley horse? – You’re keeping up, but – Oh! The burn! That’s muscle fatigue related to your overall muscular endurance, and Pilates is here to help. What is Muscle Endurance? You…
How Exercise Benefits Your Brain Function Have you ever had to jog your mind? Or pick someone’s brain? Perhaps, some days, your mind feels like a sieve! Or you can’t wrap your brain around something? Exercise can benefit your brain! As young as 8, we know exercise benefits brain development. But across our lifespan, physical activity is so vital for our brains to help with cognition, reduce anxiety and depression, and improve our quality of life and sleep patterns. Here…